Although this year's annual Ryder Cup tee-off between teams from Golf Kenosee and White Bear Lake Golf Course was halted at the midway point due to heavy rain, both teams proved equal in their endurance, leaving this year's edition of the competition in default.
White Bear Lake Golf Course pro Gord Petke said, "The guys endured the rain here at White Bear on Saturday like real troupers in the cold, wet conditions."
However, with rains that forced the closure of the Golf Kenosee course on Sunday, the competition was stopped.
In spite of the unseasonable weather, the Ryder is a perenially popular-and friendly-competition that spans two decades. According to Golf Kenosee pro, Kyle Mulligan, the tournament is not only a chance for golfers from both courses to end the season with "the opportunity to play some good golf with some good players. It's also a chance for both courses to raise awareness for tourism in the area."
"People in the Carlyle area have two championship courses and two of the best courses in the province within 10 minutes of each other," says Mulligan. "At Golf Kenosee, we've had a very big year. We've hosted the PGA [Saskatchewan] Championship, the Saskatchewan Ladies and Senior Ladies Championship and one of our golfers, Paul Grimes, is representing Saskatchewan at the Canadian Mens Senior Amateur Championship this month."
"I know White Bear has had a fantastic year as well. It's been a big year for both of us, so [the Ryder Cup] is always a great way to wrap up the season. It's a chance to be social and to build cameraderie between our clubs."
White Bear Lake Golf Course pro Gord Petker agrees. "We've had some great golf and a lot of tournaments this year. We've had the White Bear Ladies charity tournament, Sask Wildlife and Red River Oil, to name a few. We are a destination course," adding that golfers from across the province and even the continent have golfed there. Before his appearance last month at the Bear Claw Casino, Louisiana-based country star Sammy Kershaw golfed at White Bear. "He said it was one of the nicest courses he's ever played."
"It's one of the nicest golf experiences you can find. It doesn't matter what level you're at," adds Petker.
The local competition, which is modelled on the contest between the best golfers from Europe and the U.S., alternates between the clubs.
Prior to the interrupted 2014 Ryder Cup event, Petker said, "We're happy with the team that we have. It should be a real good match. With the weather and rain predicted for the weekend, it will be a real test with the golf. We're happy with the team that we have and both sides are happy to continue the friendly rivalry and great golf between two great clubs. It's nice for the guys to get together and we'll let the boys battle it out."
This year's Ryder Cup roster from White Bear Lake Golf Course was: Earl Silcox, C.J. Gelowitz, Dennis Liziuk, Andrew Sillers, Shawn Pollock, Brett Standingready, Dez Littlechief, Ian Kellen, Rod Nieviadomy, Cory Pinaice, Tyler Mryglod, Brad Mryglod, Kelly Johnson, Frank McArthur, Eli Tokohopie, Ken Lonechild and Dave Poitras.
Golf Kenosee's Ryder Cup team members were: Carson Harcourt, Rick Hallberg, David Balfour, Kelly Currie, Travis Declercq, Mike Currie, Brent Struble, Fritz Sauter, Nathan Johnson, Clarke Lemieux, Ben Brown and Clayton Geiger.
"From our standpoint, it is very competitive. We take our top twelve guys who have two weeks to play in order to try and qualify for this event. Within our club, there's a lot of pride making the team," says Mulligan.
"This is a friendly competition and an opportunity for all of us to showcase two great courses in the area."
