The Peninsula Cup, formerly known as the Walker Cup, is revived for this golf season. The only change is that pros, two from each club, will be allowed to participate.
The Kenai Golf Course will only be utilizing amateur golfers for this competition. We welcome the challenge to compete against professionals and other amateurs and feel this year’s Peninsula Cup will be a very competitive event.
For the competition seniors, 62 years and older, will play from the gold tees. All other competitors will play from the white tees. This will allow senior golfers to compete with younger golfers in a more competitive way. This will also allow for more seniors players to participate.
There is no limit on the number of seniors or younger golfers that can participate. Each team will present to the other club a 16-person roster or those eligible to participate. We will get together and determine pairings before the Cup begins.
The 16-person roster cannot be changed after it has been submitted to the other club. The format for Aug. 15 is best ball, Aug. 17 is the dreaded alternate shot. The pairings will consist of six two-person teams from each club each day. Tee times start at 5:30 p.m. both days at the Kenai Golf Course. Because of the late start, there will be a shotgun start on those two days.
Aug. 19 is the final day of the Cup and will be singles competition, starting at 11 a.m. Starts will be by tee times. There will be a banquet at the end of the day on Aug. 19, at which the Peninsula Cup will be presented to the winning team.
Next year the Peninsula Cup will be held at the Birch Ridge Golf Course. We won the coin toss for this year. Again, we are looking forward to meeting the players from Birch Ridge in a competitive, friendly way. Maybe, just maybe, this will lead to more combined events in the coming years. I would like to invite the public to come to the course and watch some exciting, competitive golf on Aug. 15, 17 and 19.
The Junior Golf Mentor Program is run by the Kenai Golf Association. In this program, junior golfers receive one hour of individual instruction and free golf from 9 to 11:30 every Thursday morning. This is a completely free program for all junior golfers. So far this year it has been a great success. This program will continue until school starts.
This year the Kenai Golf Association has started a new program for lady golfers. From the beginning of the season the KGA has paid for one free round of golf for all lady golfers. This program continues through the end of our golf season. Like the junior program, this program has also been very successful.
Ladies, if you haven’t already taken advantage of this program, come to the course and do so. Also, ladies, if you would like to get some instruction, sign up for our beginning and intermediate clinics. It’s a great way to improve your game and meet other ladies who enjoy golf. Call the clubhouse for more information at 283-7500.
Tommy Carver, our teaching professional, also teaches several junior golf clinics each season. He is an excellent instructor. Whether you are a beginning or experienced golfer, these clinics will improve your game.
During the golf season, there are a total of 18 golf tournaments. These include four-person scrambles and competitive stroke play events. They are fun and competitive. Organizations often raise money for kids programs, scholarships and other fundraisers through their golf tourneys.
Men’s Night Thursday results — Fourteen golfers participated. The team consisting of Jason Woodruff, Ted Felton and Dean Jorgenson came in first with a score of 3 under par. Second place went to Rahn Kerkvleit, Clyde Reynolds and Craig Larson with a score of 2 under par.
They won second place in a chip-off with Max Dye, James Dye, Seth Jorgenson and Glen VanDenberg. The fourth-place team, finishing at even par, was Kevin Bickerstaff, Greg Maturro, Tyler Felton and Austin Cronce. Closest to the pin at the 10th was won by James Dye with a shot of 12 feet, 7.5 inches. The 14th was won by Seth Jorgenson with a great shot of 5 feet, 5 inches.
Kenai Cup update — Through the July Kenai Golf Association event, first place with 45 points is Bill Davis. Pat Bowen is in second with 37 points. Gordon Griffin, Todd Eskelin and Michael Houghton are tied for third place with 22 points each. John Gibson is in sixth with 18 points. Other point tallies are Rene Alvarez (13), Charles Rehder (7), Chuck Rupenthal (6) and Mark McComsey (3).
Fred Thompson Memorial Tournament results — Offshore Systems finished first with a score of 60, 12 under par. The team included Doug Jung, Craig Jung, Todd Eskelin and Tommy Carver. Second place went to Hilcorp #1 with a score of 63. The third-place team was FNBA with a 65. BP, with a 66, came in fourth.
This was a great tournament that honored a truly great and gentle man. He will always be remembered at the Kenai Golf Course for his wonderful attitude and smile. Many thanks to Seth and Justin Thompson for organizing this tournament so well. The 40-plus players who participated are already looking forward to next year. The Kenai Golf Course was pleased to support this tournament.
The Salamatoff Golf Tournament is Friday. This is a tremendous golf tournament run by Thumper Monfor. The first-place team will receive four Callaway Rogue Drivers for a total value of over $2,000. Four pairs of golf shoes of their choice will be awarded the second-place team for a possible value of over $450.
The third-place team members will each receive a box of ProV1 golf balls. This is in addition to prizes for long drives and closest to the pins. There will be lots of door prizes too. It benefits a great cause and is fun for all who participate.
August Tournaments
Aug. 4 and 5: Kenai Open; Aug. 11 and 12, Donnie Morgan Memorial Club Championship; Aug. 18, Brown Bears Tournament; Aug. 19, KGA Tourney; Aug. 25 and 26, Kenai Cup Finals; Ladies Beginner Clinic, Aug. 20 to 22, 6 to 8 p.m.; Junior Clinic, Aug. 22 and 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
As always, see you on the course.
