Amateur and pro golfers will hook up on the links of the Gull Lake Golf Course to have some fun, support a worthy cause, and no doubt, in the process share a few laughs about the predictable, unpredictability of golf.
The eighth annual Junior Golf Foundation of Gull Lake Pro-Am tournament will be held July 19 and July 20.
Carla McCann, who owns the Gull Lake golf course with husband Eamon, said this year’s pro-am tournament promises to be the highlight of the summer.
“It is an exciting time for myself and Eamon and everyone who comes always has a really good time. The pros keep coming back year and after year and the cool thing is they keep asking to come back.”
The adult-child tournament will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday. During this tournament pros will be stationed at every hole to offer a few tips and provide assistance to the players.
This tournament will be followed by demonstrations and clinics conducted by the pro golfers in attendance.
These golfers include Sam Randolph, PGA tour winner and top amateur in the 1985 and 1986 Masters; Adrienne White, LPGA Futures Tour Member and two-time Alberta champion; Laura Witvoet, LPGA member and head professional at Wolf Creek Golf Resort, and Stuart Hendley, Canadian tour winner and former junior World Champion. Other pros to be at the pro-am tourney include Dave McMillan, CPGA member and director of Golf at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg; Brandon Reginier, director of golf at Whitecourt Golf and Country Club and past participant of the Gull Lake Junior Program.
Dirk Ayers, New York State Amateur Champion with 20 professional wins worldwide; Paul Devenport, who also has 20 professional wins including four Canadian tour wins; Shelby Chrest, Big Break competitor; Kris Tschetter, two time winner on the LPGA and Perry Parker, Canadian Tour Winner and US Open competitor will round out the star studded pro list.
A live auction will be held in the evening with such items as NHL jerseys, southern U.S. golf trips and a registered APHA buckskin yearling filly.
A silent auction will begin July 16 and run until July 20 at 4 p.m.
Saturday will begin with breakfast with pros.
At 11 a.m. a nine-hole individual play for title sponsors and guests with a professional golfer in each group will be held, followed by a nine-hole Texas Scramble.
The Gull Lake Foundation was formed to provide educational endowments to past participants of the Gull Lake Junior League.
Through overwhelming sponsorship from communities throughout Alberta and past program events, scholarships have been provided to more than 20 junior members. The focus of junior league is to learn the etiquette of golf and good sportsmanship and to help young golfers develop a lifelong love of the game.
The foundation was spearheaded by Harold Lissel.