The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Million-Dollar-Hole-In-One contest has come and gone again for another year, and once again the event was popular with local golfers. After six days of competition with lots of daily prizes handed out, the playoffs were held on Sunday, July 24 at the Phantom Lake Golf Course driving range. After the dust had cleared in the finals, D.J. Wilson was the closet to the pin and therefore advanced to the provincial playoffs set for Saskatoon in September. If he is able to win that competition, he will qualify for the national playoffs in Whistler, B.C. There were three hole-in-ones during the regular weekly play, but none in the semi-finals or finals. The event was a fundraiser for the Tri-Service clubs, which include the Lions Clubs, Rotary Club and Kinsmen Club. Here is a list of the top 10 finishers for each of the six days of regular competition. Each golfer received a prize and earned a place in Sunday's semi-finals. Day 1 Ñ July 18: Keenan Kennedy, Harold Harris, Brad Burke, Murray Skeavington, Brett Davie, Eric Fernandes, Blaine Gogal, Scott Klemmer, Scott Smith and Warner Rink. Day 2 Ñ July 19: Blaine Gogal, Larry Edworthy, Dustin Trumbley, Jason Brown, Brad Burke, Murray Skeavington, Alan Chatfield, Dennis Hyndman, Brett Davie and Russ Dobson. Day 3 Ñ July 20: Darcy Salamondra, Jeff Horner, Scott Skeavington, Dave Salahub, Graham Garrett, Bryan Bowskill, Tim Smith, Mike Phair, Brett Davie and Laverne Hinzman. Day 4 Ñ July 21: Keenan Kennedy, Curt Lawrence, Eric Skeavington, Kris Lee, Scott Skeavington, Rob Trubiak, Blaine Gogal, Don Melien, Brett Stephenson and Al Simpson. Day 5 Ñ July 22: Tim Smith, Grant McLuckie, Blaine Gogal, Derek Reid, Laverne Hinzman, Jim Rasmussen, Joe Plochensky, Brenda Russell, Dennis Hyndman and Sue Murray. Day 6 Ñ July 23: D.J. Wilson, Curt Lawrence, Neil Goodman, Zach Alexander, Neal Leifso, Paul Warga, Kent Reid, Dustin Trumbley, Greg Phair and Colin McPhee. All of the golfers who qualifified for the semi-finals had a chance at some big prizes. Each of the semi-finalists were given three balls to hit. (If a person had made the top ten list on more than one day, then he or she was given an additional three balls for each qualifying day). Any of the golfers in the semi-final who made a hole-in-one with their first ball would win a Dodge Grand Caravan from Twin Motors. A hole-in-one with their second ball would win a Polaris Sportsman 800 ATV from Frontline Sport and Leisure. A hole-in-one with their third ball would win a $6,000 home renovation package from Home Hardware. None of the golfers managed to make a hole-in-one during the semi-final competition, but the six who came closet-to-the-pin did receive more prizes and the cherished entry into the finals. In this year's final were: Brett Davie, Neil Leifso, Keenan Kennedy, Dennis Hyndman, Bryan Bowskill and D.J. Wilson. In the finals, each golfer was given one ball to hit towards the pin some 85 yards away. If any golfer had sunk the ball into the cup, they would have won the one million dollar cash prize. Although there were no hole-in-ones, D.J. Wilson was the closest to the pin with his shot, and therefore earned the right to compete in Saskatoon at the provincial playoffs.
