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Hundreds in attendance raise thousands for Gull Lake Golf Course Scholarship Fund

The numbers have been crunched and while there are still cheques and donations rolling in, a recent pro-am golf event held at Gull Lake Golf Course will go a long way in ensuring some young area golfers will have the opportunity to further their educations.

Review staff

The numbers have been crunched and while there are still cheques and donations rolling in, a recent pro-am golf event held at Gull Lake Golf Course will go a long way in ensuring some young area golfers will have the opportunity to further their educations.

The demonstration, which was held on Monday, June 30, was designed to raise funds for a scholarship fund which can be accessed by junior members of the course. It included six professional golfers including PGA Tour member Sam Randolph, LPGA golfer Kris Tschetter and professionals Stuart Hendley, Perry Parker, Brandon Regnier and Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk.

“It went really well. The course was in awesome shape and we had lots of people coming to watch,” said Carla McCann who operates the course with her husband Eamon. “The professionals were very pleased with everything so, as a whole, it was a fantastic event. Everything turned out really well.”

McCann added that the interaction between the professionals and those who purchased sponsorships was as smooth as silk thanks to a meet-and-greet the evening before.

“It was nice because it brought the pros in with the people that were going to golf with them as well as the people that put up a substantial amount of money,” she said. “It gave it a real nice atmosphere – there wasn’t any anxiousness among the golfers in meeting the pros because everyone had already met them.”

While the estimated crowd – which peaked at somewhere between 275 and 300 spectators were there to see some great golf, the silent auction brought in a substantial amount of funds for the scholarship.

According to Eamon McCann, the top selling items were all related to Canada’s other favourite sport with a framed, autographed hockey jersey from Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby bringing in $1,800. Other notable jerseys up for bids included those from Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Sam Gagne of the Edmonton Oilers.

McCann added that the foundation’s board – which oversees the scholarship funds, said there are still cheques, cash and other donations still rolling in, however after the bills are paid, they estimate somewhere between $18,000 and $21,000 will be forward to the account.

He said the major sponsors of the demonstration – who paid a premium to be able to mingle and learn from the professionals, was very positive.

“We got unbelievable feedback,” McCann said. “I spoke to five of my new sponsors who, without hesitation, said that they’d be back next year and they wanted to be sure we invited them back next year.”

He added that one of the most touching parts of the entire event occurred when the professionals – after a long, hot day on the course, took the time to give some of Gull Lake’s junior members some private lessons.

And as successful as this year’s version of the fundraiser went, McCann said there will most-likely be changes in the format for next year’s demonstration.

“This was the first time we went with a team event and the feedback we got from some of the supporters was that they wanted to see them play a more-aggressive competition next year, rather than just another team event,” he said. “So I think next year we’re going to go with a different format.”

Junior members of the golf course are encouraged to stop by the clubhouse and pick up an application for scholarship assistance. In addition to filling out the form, the juniors will also be required to write a short essay describing what they learned and how participation in the program has made them better, more-sporting golfers.

At the end of the junior season this August, the foundation’s board will be selecting the winner or winners, who will be presented with funds to further their education beyond the high school level.

Check future editions of the Rimbey Review for pictures of all the winners.