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Summer weather shows for 14th Annual Pro-Am

The annual event serves as a fundraiser for the Junior Golf Foundation of Gull Lake
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Pro-Am Tournament participants pose for a group shot before the 18 Hole Texas Scramble at Gull Lake Golf Club on July 13. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Rimbey Review

It was a beautiful weekend for golf at the 14th Annual Pro-Am Tournament.

The fundraising event held at Gull Lake Golf Club saw almost 60 people hit the links on July 13.

In the Saturday event kids, sponsors and pros teed off for a Texas Scramble.

“The cool thing about our tournament is our pros come from all over,” said Carla McCann, co-manager of Gull Lake Golf Club. “We have pros who are from Central Alberta, we have one that’s here from California, a couple from Vancouver Island, and most of them have played either PGA of LPGA.”

The two day tournament serves as a fundraiser for the Junior Golf Foundation of Gull Lake, which provides scholarships to past members of the club’s junior program.

To date the program has given almost $100,000 to post-secondary students over the past 12 years.

Past members of the junior program who are going to study anything from engineering to hairdressing are eligible for the scholarship.

The annual event kicked off on July 9 with the silent auction, but didn’t see anyone on the course until July 12.

The Adult/Child Program on Friday saw over 80 people play in a 9 Hole Scramble with a pro golfer, a live auction and a pro skins game.

“It was craziness here [on Friday]. It was lots of fun,” said McCann. “It’s an interactive thing because our focus is always about the kids, so it’s important we have kids playing in it.”

McCann described Friday as their “crazy kids day,” but the Saturday Pro-Am event also puts emphasis on the sponsors.

Major sponsors Downton’s Transport Ltd. and Woods Edward Engineering Ltd., as well as title sponsors Adidas and Sunny 94 FM showed up to play alongside a great group of sponsors, pros and juniors.

Most of the juniors saved up to pay for the entry to the tournament themselves, said McCann.

With next year being the tournament’s 15th anniversary the event may see some changes to commemorate the milestone.

“It will still be a golf tournament, but you know, the 15th, that’s a big deal,” said McCann.

McCann and her husband, Eamon, worked with the Junior Golf Foundation of Gull Lake chairman George Smith and the six committee members, as well as a group of volunteers, to make the 14th annual event a great weekend of golf.

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A group poses at hole one before teeing off for a day of golf. The group featured major sponsor Downtown’s Transport Ltd. and title sponsor Adidas. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Rimbey Review
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A junior caddy and golfers make their way up to the putting green after a set of drives on July 13. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Rimbey Review
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A junior golfer tees off during the Junior Golf Foundation of Gull Lake’s fundraising tournament on July 13. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Rimbey Review