The Moose Mountains is home to two beautiful golf courses which have a healthy rivalry between their members, who are all extremely proficient in the sport.
On Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25, Golf Kenosee and White Bear Lake Golf Course held a Ryder Cup tournament. The original Ryder Cup being a tournament of the best golfers from Europe versus the best of the United States.
This tournament followed a similar format with three games played instead of four. The local Ryder Cup faced a game of alternate shot in the morning on Saturday at Kenosee with a game of two person best ball to follow.
The next day saw players take part in single matches with one player from Kenosee against one from White Bear.
"It's a fun cup for friends to get together," Kyle Mulligan, Golf Kenosee golf pro. "All the guys play at both courses throughout the year and the tournament is good for camaraderie. We hope to continue it for a long, long time."
Overall there were 12 members of both Kenosee and White Bear courses to challenge each other.
White Bear players included Ken Lonechild, Justin Mosquito, Shaun Pollock, Rod Neivaidomy, Corey Piniace, Dez Littlechief, Guy Lonechild, Nathan Pasap, Frank McArthur, Ian Kelln, Brett Standingready, and Andrew Sillers.
Kenosee golfers were Nathan Johnson, Fritz Sauter, Ben Brown, Mark Cudmore, Kelly Currie, Kent Sauter, Dave Belfour, Rick Hallberg, Ty Lamontange, Travis Declereq, Buddy Beauchesne, and Jordon Fenwick.
Being held for around 10 years the tournament has seen both clubs win the coveted cup multiple times, which is explained as being done mostly for bragging rights.
"It's just a friendly rivalry between two courses," said Don Evans, Kenosee Captain. "Somebody suggested an annual competition and the Ryder Cup format just seemed to fit. It's not exactly the same, but it's close."
In addition to the top 12 from each courses competing, a fun match was also organized between the golf pro's Mulligan and Gord Petker (White Bear Lake) as well as course superintendents Calvin VanWinkoop (Golf Kenosee) and Larry Palmer (White Bear Lake).
"It's just a fun nine holes before the tourney for fellowship and a chance to talk about their courses," CJ Gelowitz, assistant White Bear Lake Course captain, explained.
Saturday saw Golf Kenosee members up on the White Bear players. Wins on the first day during the alternate shot round resulted in six to zero for Kenosee and the second round of better ball would be won four to two for Kenosee.
The Sunday draw at White Bear of individual matches resulted in a seven to five win for Kenosee meaning in the end the tournament would again be won by members of Golf Kenosee with a score of 17 to seven.
All golfers were then welcomed to the Bear Claw Casino for dinner and presentations.
"The presentations and wind up was held at the Bear Claw Casino who sponsored the event," Evans explained.
This included dinner, a facility to hold the wind up, as well as Ryder Cup t-shirts for both teams of golfers.
Next year the Ryder Cup will be held with two rounds at White Bear, with a single round of golf at Kenosee, meaning the White Bear golfers will have home course advantage for the two rounds on the Saturday.
