ESTEVAN — Thirty-five teams of golfers took aim at recording an elusive ace during the Estevan Bruins' Alumni Association's Boston Pizza Hole-in-One Par-3 Golf Tournament.
The TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course was converted to 18 par-3 holes May 24 for the competition, with a $10,000 prize offered for the first hole in one on each hole. Former Bruin Jason Hengen won the award for the closest approach, as he came within 11 inches of an ace on the third hole.
"It's always a good time whenever everyone gets together for that par three," said Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins president Riley Tetreault.
The team of Dylan Lay, Kyle Salaway, Reegan Robinson and Riley Robinson won the Gary McKechney Championship Trophy for having the lowest score on the day at 7-under-par 47. They finished in a tie for first with Nolan Rohatyn, Scott Sykes, Jason Fenwick and Marcus Friess, and the two teams went to a playoff that lasted two holes to decide a winner.
The trophy is named after McKechney, who was hired in 1971 as the first head coach of the modern SJHL Bruins.
Also on hand were representatives of the 1984-85 Bruins club that won the SJHL championship, including players Steve Godfrey, Kevin Pastachak, Tim Lequyer, Jason Taylor, Mike Vallee and Kym Vallee, and play-by-play announcer Peter Loubardias.
"That's the cool part of the alumni tournament is you have a group like that which comes back and hasn't been together in that form for a long period of time," said Tetreault.
Golfers ranged from the 1970s and the 1980s teams up to Brady Wilson, who just graduated from the Bruins and junior A hockey in March.
Funds raised during the tournament are used to support the Bruins. The association supplied the team with in-game video software worth more than $10,000. Tetreault noted the alumni has donated more than $125,000 back into the club over the years.
In the past, they have supported the 50th anniversary season third jerseys, the Game Breaker video analyzing system, the Bruin dressing room complex, the 2016 Western Canada Cup tournament, the Bruin team picture wall in Affinity Place, the Bruin players' lounge seating, and team functions and annual backpacks.
