By Eric Trent
Sunny skies and ascending golf balls marked the annual Peninsula College Pirate Golf Tournament, on May 29, where $11,000 was raised for Peninsula College athletic scholarships.
7 Cedars at Dungeness hosted this year’s tourney, which included 118 golfers and 29 teams. Mitch Freeman, the men’s basketball coach at Peninsula College, was the event director.
“We were able to raise more financial support this year with the help of 7 Cedars Casino and the golf course at the Cedars of Dungeness, and the 20 plus other local sponsors. The money raised will help students pay for their college education,” Freeman said.
This year’s tournament was a huge success because of the individuals and business on the Olympic Peninsula, along with all the volunteers who gave up their time to make this tournament a fun event that people will want to continue to be a part of,” Freeman added.
A shotgun start got underway at 1 p.m. for the four-person scramble format tournament, which featured 18 holes of golf, lunch, and beverages.
Participants also had a chance to win $10,000 or a new 2015 Buick from Ruddell Auto Mall, for anyone who could sink a hole-in-one on Hole 11.
The shiny, silver Buick sat directly next to the tee on Hole 11.
One golfer came within four feet of a hole-in-one, but no one was able to sink the shot and walk away with the cash or the car.
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Monte Hegel attempts sinking a putt to win a bottle of wine. Photo by Eric Trent
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Photo by Eric Trent
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Photo by Eric Trent
“I believe this was our largest and most successful Pirate Golf Tournament ever. Mitch Freeman and a large group of volunteers put on a great event and raised a whole bunch of money for athletic scholarships,” Peninsula Athletic Director Rick Ross, said.
“Special thanks to Seven Cedars Casino and the Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course for their enormous contribution, and to all of the tournament sponsors. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to recruit the kind of athletes who make our program so successful,” Ross added.
A Peninsula College graduate celebrity made an appearance. Former NBA referee, member of the Pirate men’s first basketball championship team in 1970, and Port Angeles native, Bernie Fryer, participated in the event for the second year in a row.
“I played last year, and I know it comes up every year, and Ronnie Sather called me to see if I wanted to play. I was away when he called me. I was doing the (NBA) playoffs, down in Houston, so I was on the road but it was easy to get here. We’re waiting for the (NBA) Finals to start on Thursday the fourth,” Fryer said.
Fryer retired as an NBA official in 2007, after a 28-year career. “I don’t ref anymore, I’m in management,” Fryer said.
When asked who he thought would win the NBA Finals, Fryer wouldn’t decisively say. “It’s going to be a good match, it’s going to be really good. LeBron’s playing really well, and the Warriors are a fun team,” Fryer said.