The 2015 Team Championship, a/k/a the CRAB Tournament and its pre-tournament auction was again a huge success, achieving new heights, as $18,577 was generated for the SunBird Golf Course Capital Fund.
This tournament, played on Saturday, November 21, consisted of teams from the Canadian Club, the Roadrunners Club, the Americans and the Bandits, ergo the name CRAB tournament. A total of 32 golfers from each of the teams were put into foursomes according to handicap. Each foursome had a player from each team playing against the other players in that foursome. The format was 18 holes of stroke play with each player’s score being a net score – actual score minus handicap. At the end of the foursome’s round, the player with the lowest net score received four points, the second lowest three points, third lowest two points and the highest one point. The points from all 32 foursomes were then tallied and the team with the most points was declared the CRAB champion for 2015. The winners and CRAB champions for 2015 were the Americans with 85 points. Runners up were the Roadrunners with 81.5 points, Bandits at 80 points and the Canadians, who came into the tournament with a two year winning streak, at 73.5 points. It is important to note that other than bragging rights and the team name on a plaque in the Pro Shop, there are no cash prizes. All player entry fees less tournament expenses go into the above-mentioned fund. Following the play, a great lunch prepared by our golf course manager Rick Lantgen and his crew was served.
The big winner of this event, however, was the SunBird Golf Club which received all of the proceeds from the very successful and well attended pre-tournament auction, held on the Clubhouse patio Friday afternoon. Joel Sybesma, an experienced, outstanding and entertaining auctioneer, again conducted the process as attendees bid for the purchase of the many donated items including a reconditioned golf cart donated by A1 Golf Carts. Many thanks go out to Joel and his wife Jane for the many hours of time spent in the preparation and conducting of this successful auction which generated $13,848 for the golf course.
In summary, the total proceeds to the Golf Course Capital Fund from this tournament was $18,577 which included $13,848 from the auction and $4,729 from player fees less expenses. This is a new record for the CRAB Tournament.
Tournaments of this magnitude require the support and participation of a host of volunteers who on the course or in the background make the tournament fun and efficient. Their efforts are greatly appreciated. Also, the efforts of the tournament committee including Wes Akerman, Chairman, Kenly Matheson, Canadians, Bill Johnson, Roadrunners, Jack Cooper, Americans, Dean Tucker, Bandits and Norm Ott, Publicity, are greatly appreciated.