The Castlegar Golf Club & RV Park played host to the annual Sunflower Men's Open on July 27 and 28 and Finlay Young, who plays out of the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, took Low Gross honours with a two-day total of 149.
Young, a scratch handicap, took home not only the big trophy but a TaylorMade R1 Driver for his links prowess. Interestingly, Ronda Young, who enjoyed the weekend in Castlegar while Finlay was golfing, won the ladies tournament in the late '90s.
Al Knutson, who plays to a stellar 3 handicap, grabbed the Low Net trophy and an R1 of his own, with a tournament total of 145.
Sponsors were exceedingly generous with prizes for the 53 attendees with no less than 18 prizes (including golf bags, clubs, dozens of golf balls, overnight accommodation, clothing, etc.) handed out on Sunday.
During the tournament, there were also prizes for closest-to-the-hole, long drives, and big cash up for holes-in-one which, perhaps happily for those sponsors, went unclaimed.
The long-drive winner by the way, was Josh Coletts, who somehow smashed a dimpled missile 369 yards at the range.
The golf course had a free practice round for all participants on Friday, a steak barbecue dinner on Saturday and dining specials all weekend. Golfers also enjoyed an Arby's bagged lunch on Sunday as they made their way from the 9th hole.
Craig Stocker and the course maintenance crew did an outstanding job and the course was in magnificent shape for play.
Thanks were extended to tournament organizers Gordon Boyd, Florio Vassilakakis, Ryan Byers, Bergen Price, Brian Miller (GM), Pat Biln (Head Golf Pro), Tanja Espenhain, Brian deVooght, all of the golf and clubhouse staff and the 18 volunteers who stepped up to ensure the weekend was a success.
Sponsors of the event, in no particular order, were:
RHC Insurance Brokers, Ltd.; Hall Printing; AM Ford; ClubCar; Super 8; Martech; Element Club Bar & Grill; Cana Reinforcing; Kal Tire; Sandman Hotel - Castlegar; WSA Engineering; Soligo & Associates LTd.; Venture Mechanical Systems Ltd.; Arby's.