ELK POINT – Back in the first week of June in 2020, a new tradition was born in Elk Point, when organizers RCMP officer Mike Marianchuk, volunteer firefighter Lyle Frisby and ambulance operators Fred Lambright and Jay McNeil organized the first ever Elk Point Emergency Services Golf Tournament. A total of 90 participants were on hand that day, the tournament raising close to $12,000 to support STARS Air Ambulance.
That tradition has continued every year, except for the years when COVID did not allow in person sports, and has continued to “keep STARS in the sky” as the slogan went, through the years.
This year would have been the 25th anniversary for the tournament, if it had not been for the pandemic break, and with the Elk Point and District Lions Club added to the organizing team in recent years, this time around, there was another change, the proceeds dedicated to support emergency services providers in the Elk Point area, with projects such as an enclosed ambulance bay at Elk Point Healthcare Centre being considered whenever funds permit.
Fourteen teams were on hand last Wednesday and enjoyed breakfast sponsored by Hahn Welding before hitting the course in strong winds that continued to challenge the players throughout the day. Lunch sponsored by the Town of Elk Point fired the golfers up for another round of competition that was so strong that two teams were tied for first place when everyone returned to the Elk Point Golf and Country Club’s headquarters for the supper sponsored by RONA.
RONA’s own team wasn’t part of the tie, coming a close third, but Myles Quinney’s foursome and Fore Play team rivals Chris Morrison, Denis Langevin, Brandon Condon and Skyler Ewasiuk headed right back out to break their 52-stroke tie, Quinney’s team taking the victory and gift certificates for their next visit to the golf course.
Although no one achieved the hole-in-one award sponsored by Jonny’s Electric, one golfer came very close, with Jonny Nielsen declaring that Cherise Kozicky of the Twisted Sisters golf team “had bragging rights” for her excellent attempt on the third hole.
