Cherie Swaan putts a pink ball in front of the Quesnel Golf Course’s Club House. Ronan O’Doherty photos

Cherie Swaan putts a pink ball in front of the Quesnel Golf Course’s Club House. Ronan O’Doherty photos

Special Olympic Golf tournament worth the drive

Twelve Prince George athletes come out for Quesnel event

  • Sep. 12, 2018 12:00 a.m.

Participants at the fifth annual Quesnel Special Olympics Golf Tournament braved some soggy greens and the presence of a curious bear on Hole 4 at the Quesnel Golf Course this weekend (Sept 8 -9).

The Special Olympic motto ‘let me win but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’ was all too true for the golfers who took part.

Thirteen local links lovers and 12 players from Prince George played six holes a day during the fun-filled event.

Closest to the pin contests were held and the coaches battled each other in a putting challenge too.

READ MORE: Special Olympics Nationals are bigger than sports for Quesnel athlete

Most players teed off from a 100 yards or so from the green, but a couple groups of heavy hitters played from the 150 yard mark.

Although the competitive spirit was high, everyone was having an absolute ball.

Greg Lindstrom, who finished top in the D Division, wasn’t going to let the damp weather affect his game.

“It’s a little wet but my shoes aren’t squeaky, so that’s a good thing,” he said, chuckling.

Camaraderie was on display with much congratulating of shots when appropriate.

“[The Quesnel golfers] play on separate days of the week,” said local co-ordinator Rick Prosk.

“So it’s only a couple times a year that they play together, which makes this nice.”

READ MORE: Quesnel Special Olympics wraps up 2018 soccer and track

Saturday individual stroke play results:

‘D’ Division: 3rd-Cheyenne Janes: 66, 2nd-Richard Rossignol: 65, 1st-Greg Lindstrom: 57

‘C’ Division: 3rd-Douglas King, 2nd-Barbie Conway (PG):77, Marinka Vanhage (PG):77

‘B’ Division: 3rd-Robert Beiswanger: 69, 2nd-Clayton Bauder: 68, 1st-Matthew Hender: 67

‘A’ Division: Greg Evenshen (PG): 58, 2nd-Johnathan Olsen (PG): 55, 1st-Josh Pudney (PG): 54

Sunday team play results:

‘C/D’ Division: 2nd: Trevor Roszmann /Paul Goyette: 93, 1st: Douglas King and Richard Rossignol: 81

‘A/B’ Division: 2nd: Adam Spokes (PG) and Matt Hender: 66, 1st (tiebreaker): Greg Evenshen (PG) and Clayton Bauder, 66


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