The Boys and Girls Club of Sweet Home raised between $7,000 and $8,000 in its annual fund-raising golf tournament, held on Sunday at Mallard Creek Golf Course.
The Seventh Annual Boys and Girls Club of Sweet Home Mallard Creek Invitational included 128 players on 26 teams scramble style.
In the scramble style, each member of the team hits a ball. The team then plays off of the best hit, but the team must use at least two drives from each member in 18 holes.
The Mid-Valley Medical Group Valley Girls placed first among women at six strokes over par. The team included Mary Smith-Crocker, Janel Stockman, Becky Smith, Shea Sitton and Katie Dominy.
Second place were the Hot Flashes sponsored by Melcher Logging at nine strokes over par. The team included Glenda Melcher, Coreen Melcher, Marda Blem, Jeannie Thorpe and Betty Lynn.
Third place were Wendy’s Wonders (the Bogie Babes) sponsored by 4M Fiber. The team included Wendy Melcher, Lisa Murphy, Jennifer Blem, Capi Lynn and Shari Smith.
In the men’s division, Terry’s Prairie Dogs, Watkins Excavation, was 14 strokes under par to take first place. The team included Terry Watkins, Tim Mausen, Harlan Smith, Jeff Smith and Jan Jordan.
The Les Schwab Tire Center Retreads were second at 13 strokes under par. The team included Mitch Johnson, Tom Horn, Steve Smith, Dave Lambert and Gerald Cochran.
Third place went to the Orange Crush (the Beavers) from Cascade Timber Consulting, who finished 11 strokes under par. The team included Larry Blem, Milt Moran, Roger Arnold, Kevin VanCleave and Mike Miller.
Glenda Melcher led women in marshmallow hitting for distance. Chomo Santana won the men’s division.
Capi Lynn won the women’s long drive. Steve Smith and Ron Moore Jr. won the men’s long drive.
Shea Sitton won the closest to the hole competition for women. Rick Passey won the men’s.
Across the course, golfers competed in the various extra contests. Among the contests was a $1,000 prize, put up by Cascade Timber Consulting should anyone hit a hole in one on hole 13, which was sponsored by CTC.
No one claimed any award at that hole until the CTC team got there. Roger Andrews earned a package of CTC golf balls when he managed to put a ball onto the green. Larry Blem, CTC president, put a ball even closer and won a package of CTC golf balls as well.
Mr. Blem’s son, Chris Blem, shouted joking that there would be no way anyone would birdie that hole as he walked by. His father earned a birdie for the CTC team when he drove his golf ball onto the green and followed up with a single putt to finish the hole in two strokes.
Nearby, “a cart got away from someone, rolling down the hill,” Boys and Girls Club Director Kevin McLaughlin said. A volunteer ended up chasing down the cart, belonging to Albany Boys and Girls Club Director Ron Loney, rolled down the hill just above hole 13.
Janet Johnston and Marianne Clever ribbed McLaughlin about their lemonade station for putting their lemonade station near a bee’s hive. The two had to contend with marauding bees all day long.
“It was hot,” McLaughlin said, and it took its toll on players. A couple had to drop out.
Overall, McLaughlin was pleased with the tournament, he said. There were more golfers last year, but financially, the tournament did better this year.
The tournament has gotten so big in the last couple of years that the Boys and Girls Club is planning to build a volunteer committee to handle the organization details next year, McLaughlin said. McLaughlin usually plays on a team but was unable to this year due to the time needed to set up the tournament.
“It went pretty well,” McLaughlin said. “We got quite a few volunteers who’ll be on that committee next year.”
McLaughlin said Mallard Creek’s food was exceptional and offered his thanks to the course chef, Scott Elmer. He also offered thanks to Club Pro John Kawasoe.
McLaughlin recognized Melcher Logging and Cascade Timber Consulting for their contributions to the event. Both, and especially Melcher Logginer, were responsible for a number of teams in the tournament.
The tournament raised nearly $12,000 gross. After covering costs, the Boys and Girls Club should net between $7,000 and $8,000.