HR golfers excel at Founder’s Cup

Finishing just behind Team A in the four-person scramble was a team from Abruzzo Italian Grill. Glen Pearce, Gordon Mayer, Andrew Pearce and Todd Tegman combined for a score of 54.87 to win $300 and barely edge out the third-place State Farm Insurance team of Doug Sawyer, Doug Tum-ilson, Dean Wilcox and Brett Myers, who shot 55 to win $200.

Papa Murphy’s Pizza and Dan Homer Construction rounded out the top five, with Hood River Team B (Chris Emerson Jr., Kelly Emerson, Alex Bryan and Dennis Harris), also of the Twilight league, taking sixth place overall.

“We were very pleased to see our teams perform so well,” said Twilight league coordinator Chris Emerson Sr. “Considering that this was our first year, this is really great. It gives us added incentive to sponsor another team next year.”

Emerson hopes that the Thursday adult league will continue to grow in 2003 so a third team entry will be possible. Each Founder’s Cup entry costs $200, with all the proceeds going toward the Columbia Gorge Community College Scholarship Fund.

“Instead of rewarding ourselves with the money from our league dues, we wanted to establish a tradition of giving back to the community,” Emerson said. “We hope to contribute even more next year.”

The third-annual tournament, sponsored by CGCC and DLR

Architecture, hosted 36 teams and brought in $13,000 this year — two numbers that organizers expect will grow in years to come.

“We’re really trying to make this a big event,” said tournament coordinator Darlene Marick, who also helped organize a silent auction to raise money for the fund. “The community support from throughout the Gorge has been very encouraging.”

Also contributing to the event’s success were C.H. Urness Motors of The Dalles, which offered a 2002 Dodge for a hole-in-one (no winner), Papa Murphy’s Pizza, which handed out free pizza on Hole No. 14, and Divots Restaurant, which served a buffet lunch.

The tournament format was a four-person best-ball scramble, and included separate contests for Long Drive and Closest to Pin, as well as “Beat the Pro” and putting contests throughout the afternoon.

C.J. Toole had the longest drive for the men, while Sara Cowles outdrove the rest of the women’s field. Closest to pin winners were Dan Stelma, Shirley Dahlgren, Sue Jepson and Kevin Larroque.

Former Hood River Valley High School star Mike Roberts (shown above) took on $5 challenges as the resident pro.

“Everything about this year’s tournament was really great,” Marick said. “I don’t know if we can top it next year, but we’re sure going to try.”

For more information about the Founder’s Cup or the CGCC Scholarship fund, call 541-298-3128.