Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Adaptation is the key to success. That's what the 12th annual Jasper Victim Services (JVS) fundraising golf tournament on Sept. 11 proved.
"The weather was perfect. I don't think it could have been any better," said Paul Schmidt JVS coordinator. "It was more successful than we expected. This is in the top four of our 12 years of golf tournaments.”
Schmidt said the day raised close to $10,000, which was better than expected for the COVID modified tournament. He added that $35,000 has been raised the last couple of years.
This year 128 golfers took part, rather than the usual 156 each year, but considering the measures that needed to be taken to incorporate COVID protocol, that's a great turnout.
Tee times were scheduled instead of the tournament kicking off with the usual shotgun start. "We used a Texas scramble format. Everybody moves to the best shot," Schmidt explained.
The tournament started at 10 a.m. and the last tee-time was at 2:39 p.m.
In light of the pandemic, Schmidt said, "I didn't feel comfortable asking for donations. [It was important] to be sensitive to what the community's going through."
Even so, donations for the 20 items in the silent auction streamed in right up to the last minute.
Schmidt said a notice in next week's Fitzhugh will list all those who assisted with the tournament, but he shared names of winners in various categories.
"Our honourable mayor and council came out of the day as the most honest, which, though that is a dubious award, it is still a great reputation to have," Schmidt noted.
"The Jasper Volunteer Fire Brigade team, with fire chief Greg Van Tighem, Alex Napa, Dan Eady and Rob Denison will no doubt come under some heat for their efforts entering a 52 on the course.
“Honourable mention [goes] to the Earl's team in second place, shooting a 56, and the third place team, Rocky Mountain Roasters, shooting a 57."
There was a tie between Nick Clouthier and Schmidt in the chipping contest. Mulligan prize on a random draw was won by Marc Vein, Closest to the Pin was Roz Wort and Ryan Markham, and Longest Putt was taken by Laurel Kading and Quentin French.
Kathleen Buffel and Ryan Malenchuk took the title for Longest Drive, and Closest to the Pin on #7 for the Home Hardware table saw was won by Quentin French.
"Jasper the Bear joined us for the day, and that bear can swing," Schmidt said.
"We had volunteers assisting with the auction, and out at the chipping contests on #3, keeping our day flowing along."
