Ryan Yopyk and Jennifer Courterelle took home top honours at the 54th annual St. Paul Golf Club Championship.
Sunday’s club championship was the conclusion of a busy week at St. Paul Golf Club, which also saw the 16th annual Value Drug Mart Mixed Seniors Scramble on Wednesday, and the Home Hardware Golf Tournament on Thursday.
While the turnout for the championship was lower than in recent years, fun amongst the competitors was at a high, as the course was graced with warm sun and clear skies.
Yopyk earned the rights to the title of 2012 club champion after he parred the course with a gross score of 72.
“It’s a fantastic score, an unreal score,” said club manager Jerrid Pasitney, who won the first flight 0 – 7 handicap division, with a gross score of 79.
Yopyk, who has been golfing for 20 years, said it was a great feeling to finally win a tournament, especially the club championship.
“I’ve been playing in a lot of tournaments and finally won one,” said Yopyk. “I couldn’t miss. Everything just worked out as it should.”
Yopyk said he is proud to follow in the footsteps of his father John, who claimed the club championship in 1973, 1976 and 1977.
Courterelle earned the title of ladies champion with an impressive overall net score of 63.
“It was the best game I’ve played,” said ladies’ champion Courterelle. “I’ve been playing for a while but I haven’t really played much golf this year so that’s why I’m very happy about how things turned out today.”
The title of junior club champion went to Justin Pasitney, who shot a gross score of 85, while Henri de Moissac earned the senior men’s championship with a gross score of 80.
Hector Courterelle was awarded first place in the second flight eight to 14 handicap division with an overall gross score of 78.
John Yakimec’s net score of 74 earned him the first place in the third flight 15-and-up handicap division.
Prizes given away at the tournament included golf bags, shoes, apparel, and gift cards ranging from $50 to $150.
The championship awards presentation was followed by an annual “horse race” competition, a fun-based event that sees every competitor at the tournament paired up to play against each other in an elimination-style scramble through six holes.
“The worst score of the day plays with the best score, and it goes on that way,” said Pasitney, who won the horse race alongside his partner Jody Lee. “It’s just a fun event. The guys came out and golfed and now we pair up and have a fun little scramble.”
