Fifty-two golfers from around the province, and even from as far away as Alberta, will be hitting the links beginning this Saturday at the Williams Lake Golf and Tennis Club for the Central Interior Classic.
Formerly the Stampede Open, WLGTC men’s club captain Brian Merrick said the tournament was altered around four years ago to the new name and format.
“We’ve got a pretty good field of golfers this year in this tournament,” Merrick said. “More than half the field is 10 and under handicap, so there will be some pretty good golf.”
Golfers registered in the tournament are coming from as far away as Medicine Hat, while others are travelling from Prince George, Kamloops, Quesnel and Vancouver.
“It’s an amateur tournament this year,” Merrick said. “They’ll play 54 holes (one round each day) and it’s flighted, divided into four flights.”
Golfers registered in the tournament must have a B.C. Golf Association or a Royal Canadian Golf Association registered handicap.
Winners in each of the four flights are slated to take home some fantastic prizes, Merrick said.
“We’re running around $40,000 in prizes up for grabs,” Merrick said. “We’ve got hole-in-one prizes donated from local businesses and the rest of the prizes we put up with the entry fees. We’ve got patio heaters, TVs, and lots of different things all bought from the local businesses that support the men’s club.”
A banquet will be held Sunday at the Fox’s Den Restaurant for tournament participants.
Golfers are scheduled to start teeing off beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by another round Sunday starting at 9 a.m. The action gets underway Monday for the final round at 8:30 a.m.
Also of note, last weekend’s scheduled Men’s and Ladies’ Club Championships will be rescheduled for later in August.
For more information on upcoming events and tournaments at the WLGTC visit www.williamslakegolf.ca.