CHANGE IS IN the sweet-smelling spring air at Peninsula Golf Club, just in time for golfers to register for the club’s 56th annual Port Angeles Shotgun Tournament set Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28.
“For 55 years this was an individual tournament, but we changed the format to a team event this year,” Peninsula member and Shotgun committee chair Erick Blume said.
Blume said the tournament has brought players from all over the west coast and Canada to the community for a weekend of golf for decades.
That’s expected to continue in a different fashion this year.
A two-person best ball will open the competitive portion of the event with a 10 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday.
A two-person shamble format (select best drive) is the format of Sunday’s play, also with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Peninsula’s PGA head pro Chad Wagner said the switch mirrors a general movement toward team events in the game of golf.
“Golf in general has gone to a little bit more of a fun format. Individual formats are a lot of stress on the participants, especially on those coming from out of town. So we still want to keep it competitive, but also have fun and keep players in the game.”
Multiple divisions are planned with a 60-team entry limit.
Wagner said the event will include a practice round with a spouse, and 7 Cedars Casino is offering a free play and food voucher for golfers.
The entry fee is $240 per team and includes the practice round, some “pretty cool” tee prizes, KPs, hors d’oeuvres on Saturday, lunch and drink tickets and an optional honey pot.
Players will compete for a merchandise-based prize fund.
Having taken over the head pro position last December, Wagner is looking forward to his first Port Angeles Shotgun.
“I’m super excited to see how it works,” Wagner said. “[Cedars head pro] Garrett Smithson had a junior membership here back in the day and he said the Shotgun was by the far the most fun events he played in. Even now as a pro he wishes he could play in them.”
For more information, or to register, phone Peninsula Golf and Country Club at 360-457-6501.
Sweet so close
Sunland Golf and Country Club head pro and general manager Tyler Sweet did the North Olympic Peninsula proud at Gig Harbor’s Canterwood Golf & Country Club on Monday.
Sweet shot a round of 2-over-par 74 to finish four strokes out of first place and one stroke shy of a playoff in local qualifying for June’s 2017 U.S. Open.
Overall, Sweet finished 10th out of 92 golfers attempting to qualify for six spots in the next stage of U.S. Open qualifying, a sectional qualifier at Tacoma Country & Golf Club in Lakewood on June 5.
Sweet made four birdies, six bogies and eight pars in his round
The USGA accepted a total of 9,485 entries for the 2017 U.S. Open Championship. To be eligible, golfers must either be a professional, or be an amateur with a Handicap Index of 1.4 or less.
Ludlow hosts tourney
The Tri Area Trinity Riders are holding their second annual fundraising golf tournament at Port Ludlow on Saturday.
All proceeds will go toward the Christian Motorcyclists Association’s Run for the Son Missions. The Tri Area Trinity Riders are a chapter of the CMA based in Sequim. Run for the Son distributes Bibles, and provides motorcycles, bicycles and other transportation to Christian pastors ministering around the world. The CMA also ministers to the motorcycling community worldwide.
The tournament begins at 9 a.m. The fee is $75 and players will receive 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch and range balls. There will also be a silent auction with prizes such as wheel alignments, roadside kits and a one-night stay and dinner for two at The Point Casino outside of Kingston.
Also, if a business is interested in sponsoring a hole, the fee is $300.
Anyone interested in playing in the tournament or sponsoring a hole should call Dan Anderson with TATR at 360-437-9843 before Thursday.
Boys and Girls Club
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim will host the 26th annual Boys and Girls Club Golf Tournament and Fundraiser on Friday, in conjunction with the Irrigation festival.
The four-person scramble event includes a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Players can get an early start on the range and putting green when check-in opens at 11 a.m.
Lunch will be provided to players in their golf carts for an on-course nosh.
Entry fees are $100 per player, $400 per foursome.
A player package offering two mulligans, two throws, one chance to putt for wine and one split the pot raffle entry.
Players also can purchase Putts for Wine for $5 and receive three chances to sink a putt and win a bottle of wine.
To sign up, visit https://bgcopgolf.maxgiving.com.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
