Golf qualitier

Kitchen Creek Golf Club hosted the first-ever regional qualifier for next month’s provincial showdown of the Aboriginal Indigenous Games.
Close to 90 golfers from the region competed in six age divisions, with 26 qualifying for the provincials in Blind River.
From there, they will vie for a spot on Team Ontario for the National Aboriginal Indigenous Games slated next summer in Winnipeg.
Golf is one of 16 sports that make up the NAIG agenda.
The Ontario Aboriginal Sports Circle oversees the organization of qualifiers in the region but volunteers such as Lake of the Woods board member Agnes Sadewasser and golf tourney organizer Bob Crowe actually put the event together.
They were pleased with the number of players who showed up last weekend.
“They wanted to see what kind of turnout,” said Crowe. “I don’t think they expected the turnout they received. It was really good.”
Sadewasser said she noticed golf was fast catching on as a favourite among younger people, which she added is the focus of the NAIG. Calling up Kitchen Creek was a natural move.
“This is an opportunity to make a good impression on our youth for participation. [Golf is] a positive sport, very healthy. But the emphasis on youth is most important,” she stressed.
Past board member Wayne Anderson also was happy with the numbers as this golf qualifier was something he had been trying to bring here for the 1999 NAIG in Victoria.
Crowe noted for most of the kids, it was their first time teeing off on an actual golf course
“There were a few kids that came from Onigaming and had only played golf on a baseball field,” he said. “But most of them had neat swings.”
There were six different qualifiers in the region’s golf courses in Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Dryden.
The next step for the qualifiers is securing the necessary funds to make the trip to Blind River.
While most of the 26 have expressed interest in going, Sadewasser said some may have to drop out due to costs. But she added most of them will fundraise or pay out of their own pocket to go.
Even beyond qualifiers and competitions, Crowe said area First Nations should pursue the sport of golf for the younger enthusiasts.
“I think the next step should be some [golf] clinics. It’ll be a good way to generate even more interest,” he reasoned.
Here is the list of qualifiers and their scores carded over the two-day, 36-hole event:
Females
•Juvenile (aged 17-18)–Heather Green (Kenora)
•Women’s Junior (19-21)–Lena Copenace (Onigaming), Jenny Big George
•Senior Ladies (22-49)–Delores Medicine (Whitefish Bay) 199, Donna Chief 204, Madeline Copenace (Onigaming) 208
•Ladies Masters (50+)–Donna Lee (Sunset Country Métis) 188, Verna Lagarde (Thunder Bay) 193
Males
•Bantam (13-14)–Kevin Tom (Big Grassy) 209, Maverick Blackhawk (Whitefish Bay) 209, Skyler Copenace (Onigaming) 210
•Midget (15-16)–Matt Norris (Whitefish Bay) 181, Nick Norris (Whitefish Bay) 181, Ivan Mandemin (Kenora) 205
•Juvenile (17-18)–Brandon White (Whitefish Bay) 175, Sheldon Tuesday (Big Grassy) 177, Jamie Spence (Thunder Bay) 184
•Junior (19-21)–Chris Spence (Thunder Bay) 162, Kevin Copenace (Onigaming) 182, Will Handorgan (Big Grassy) 184
•Men’s Senior (22-49)–Bob Mainville (Couchiching) 157, Frank Redford (Sunset Country Métis) 157, Earl Kline (Sunset Country Métis) 159
•Men’s Masters (50+)–Jim Greene (Kenora) 159, Tom Copenace (Onigaming) 161, Dave Bruyere (Couchiching) 164