CAN-AM

Golfers didn’t let a chilly day stop them from participating in the Oct. 29 13th Annual Can-Am Golf Tournament at the Tinker Golf Course. Each hole provided a different kind of challenge to make the game more fun and interesting. On Hole #1, not only did the golfers have to tee off wearing large, smelly hockey gloves, but they also had to don hockey jerseys and putt with a hockey stick on the green. From left, Staff Sgt. David McLean, Airman 1st Class Eric Huster and Tech. Sgt. Chris States Jr. watch as 1st Lt. Jonathan Graham attempts to sink a putt. (Air Force photo by Kelly White/Released)

Can-Am Tournament comes up aces again

Published Nov. 6, 2015
By John Parker
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- About 100 Canadian and American golfers and volunteers braved 45-degree lows and light winds Oct. 29 to survive the 13th annual Can-Am Golf Tournament.

The team of Drew Baier, Tony Snow, Bryce Hardt and Tip O'Neil took home the top honor with a score of 76. There were 23 scramble teams.

As usual, the Can-Am posed a challenge at every hole, ranging from having to tee off wearing "stinky and sweaty" hockey gloves on the first hole to the 11th hole with a hole-in-one chance to win a $2,500 golf vacation. No one claimed any of the ace prizes.

Senior Airman Raechelle Lord won the women's longest drive challenge on the 18th hole. She was glad the weather warmed up as the day went on. Her team "lost a lot of balls in the woods, but that's pretty normal," she said.

Canadian Capt. Thys Hoedeman and Master Corporal James Sceviour were this year's lead organizers. The 552nd Air Control Wing Canadian Detachment runs the tournament.

"Everyone seemed to have a great time as usual," the captain said. "We like to keep the tournament fun and light with the different odd rules and equipment that teams are required to play with. This year was Lt. Col. Don Saunders' (detachment commander) first tournament as commander, but not his first time playing since he used to organize it when he was a captain here back in 2006."