HAIL TO THE victors.
Yes, I am anxiously anticipating the start of college football, but no, this portion of my column won’t discuss the Michigan fight song or any other for that matter.
The victors in question are the triumphant team from SunLand Golf & Country Club of Sequim, winners of last Saturday’s second annual Peninsula Cup.
Played under perfect conditions at SunLand, the hosts used their local knowledge to keep the trophy in the Dungeness Valley for another 12 months. (See photo of winners on Page B3).
Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course of Sequim won the inaugural tournament last year.
The tournament used the 13 best scores — the three best net scores and the 10 best gross scores from each team — to get a team total.
SunLand posted the lowest total with a 951, followed by Port Townsend Golf Club at 978, Port Ludlow Golf Club at 1,003, Peninsula Golf Club of Port Angeles at 1,006, Cedars at 1,020 and SkyRidge Golf Course of Sequim at 1,036.
SunLand team members were Ray Aldrich, Tom Caufield, Jim Coulter, Ray DeJong, Bill Dickin, Bill Engle, Tom Fitzgerald, Bob Fuller, Jim Hanley, Mike Novotny, Dennis Powell, Jack Real, Larry St. John, John Sims and Jeff Velarde.
Golf for Grads
Graduation is less than a month away for all North Olympic Peninsula high schools.
Most of the schools have a safe booze- and drug-free Grad Night party, with some classes taking boat cruises, and others gathering together at different locales to spend their last few hours together.
The Sequim High School Class of 2010 will benefit from Saturday’s Golf For Graduates Tournament at SkyRidge.
The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The format is a four-person scramble with a twist.
Members of the Sequim High School boys and girls golf teams will be auctioned off before the tourney Saturday morning to add a fifth player to your team.
Players can check in for the event at 8 a.m., purchase their “ringer” and tee off at 9 a.m.
The tournament is $50 per person or $200 for a four-person team.
Entry includes a round of golf, a gourmet lunch of blackened salmon, range balls, awards and prizes.
The tournament has space for 18 teams, so early sign-ups are suggested.
For more information, or to reserve a spot, call SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
If you can’t play but would still like to give to this worthy cause, contact Alan Kowitz at askalan@olypen.com or Paul Boucher at paulgordonboucher@hotmail.com.
The donations are tax-deductible through the Sequim Education Foundation.
Sponsors will receive signage on the course during the golf event.
ESPN tourney set
The ESPN National Golf Challenge local qualifying tournament will be held at SkyRidge on Sunday, June 6.
This two-person better-ball format is the first stage in the quest to reach the national finals in Las Vegas in November.
Local qualifiers will be invited to play at Avalon Golf Links in Burlington on Aug. 23.
Winners there can book trips to the finals in Vegas
The cost for the SkyRidge qualifier is $65 per player, which includes a dozen HX Tour Callaway golf balls and a year’s subscription to Golf Magazine.
The maximum handicap allowed is 24, and teams can be any gender mix.
A minimum of two teams are guaranteed spots at regionals.
For more information, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Clinics and lessons
SunLand golf pro Tyler Sweet will conclude his series of free clinics covering the short, mid and long game at noon this Friday.
To reserve a spot in the clinic, call the golf shop at 360-683-6800, ext. 13.
This is also the final weekend for SunLand’s special golf package.
The public can play the course and have lunch for just $39 on Saturday and Sunday.
Entries are still being taken for a drawing for a new TaylorMade R9 SuperTri driver, free rounds of golf and free golf balls.
Those interested can enter the drawing at www.sunlandgolf.com.
Remember to enter the word “contest” into the comments box.
SunLand will draw the winners Tuesday.
Soroptimist’s tee it up
The Port Angeles Soroptimist Noon Club will host its sixth annual Soroptimist Tees Off For Cancer golf tournament at Peninsula Golf Club on Saturday, June 26.
Proceeds from the four-person scramble event support Operation Uplift, a grass roots support group for both women and men with all types of cancer on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The cost for the event is $75 for the public and $50 for Peninsula members.
The golf package includes lunch and a ticket to a dinner and silent and live auction at Port Angeles Crabhouse.
For more information, or to register, phone the Peninsula pro shop at 360-457-6501.
Save the date
Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course will host the fifth annual Claws & Paws Golf Tournament — a benefit for the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society — on June 26.
The event features two divisions: handicap and Callaway.
Entries are limited to the first 100 players.
The $100 entry fee includes cart, range balls, tee prizes, longest drive prizes, KPs, raffle tickets, luncheon and a prize field of $1,500 (based on 100 players).
Tickets for the luncheon only are $15.
All proceeds go to the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, and all donations are tax deductible.
For more information or to register, call Garrett Smithson at 360-477-2718, or Andy Anderson at 360-809-0144.
Tournament directors are also seeking sponsors.
For more information about becoming a sponsor, call Kandace Schmidt at 360-461-2810 or Marsha Robin at 206-650-5431.
For more information on golfing at Cedars, call the pro shop at 360-683-6344, ext. 1.
U.S. Amateur package
For those beginning to think up Father’s Day gifts for the golf-loving dad, a good option is the Chambers Bay/U.S. Amateur Father’s Day package.
For $169, dad will receive a round of golf at Chambers Bay Golf Club in University Place and a week pass to the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay on Aug. 23 to Aug. 29.
Greens fees are normally $155 Mondays through Thursdays and $175 on weekends for non-Pierce County residents.
This is a nice opportunity for amateur dads to play a tough, heralded course and see some of the up-and-coming young golfers and older players at the amateur championship.
The course is designed for walking and only allows carts for those with a permanent disability.
Caddies are available for an extra fee to carry your bag and provide advice.
I’ll be fortunate enough to use a caddie while playing the course at the U.S. Amateur Media Day on June 22.
My game needs as much help as it can get.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.