MTA Coors/Durkee golf tourney attracts 17 teams
Pub Date: 10/1/2007
By Roger Porter
It used to be the first day of the annual Montana Tavern Association Convention was golfer s day. This year that was no longer entirely true, although that great game received the lion's share of participants.
However, many of the women preferred to sign up for another sport: a day-long champagne shopping tour of the Flathead Valley including Kalispell and Bigfork.
For those of either sex who wished to sharpen their shotgunning skills there was the sporting clays range in Polson where they could do just that. The participants in all three disciplines were reunited in the early evening at Del s in Somers for the 19th Hole Party.
As usual golf held center stage at the 52nd Convention. The annual MTA/Coors Marie Durkee Memorial Tournament was held at the beautiful historic Buffalo Hills Golf Club in Kalispell with 17 teams participating.
The competition was tough, however it was smoothed over a bit with a few cans of Coors and Coors Light, compliments of the event sponsor, Coors.
As the tourney ended and the dust cleared the following emerged as the winners, listed with their respective prizes.
Individual winners: men s long drive, Kevin Helling (travel bag)'; woman s long drive, Kris Jupka (Nike wind breaker)'; men s closest to the pin, Tom Bramrink (16-piece barbecue set)'; women s closest to the pin, Jacque Corbett (Nike wind breaker)'; men s longest putt, #4, Jupe Compton (Taylor Made rescue club), and #6, Rick Martinez (travel bag).
In the team competition the overall winners were the Lannaghan/ Lincoln team who shot a gross 61. Team members were Tim and M.J. Lannaghan and Bob Lincoln and Jacque Corbett. Each member received Eddie Bauer outdoor recliner chairs.
Other team winners and their prizes were: #12, Al Harvey, Jeff Heil, Tom Lindell and Bob Morin, each winning a golf bag'; #9, Brett Wiensch, Mark Sherman, Blaine Bowman, Ron Kangas, each winning a golf umbrella'; and #11, Ron Jupka, Bob Miller, Hud Bannon, Doug Barkemeyer, each winning a set of two stadium seats';
#6, Jeff Armstrong, Robert Brunelle, Brian Duval and Dusty Lehman, each winning a putter'; #10, Del Rupert, Rich Martinez, Steve Morris and Will Laden, each winning a barbecue set w/thermometer'; #5, John Hayes, Jim Haney, Deb Thomas and Jim Knopp, each a tent'; and #2, Kevin Melling, Merlynn McOmber, Dan Cerise and Zack Burner, each a margarita set.
Rookie of the Year award went to Mollie Wackler of Young s Market Group along with a Sawbuck s woman s top and golf balls. The Bobcat vs. Griz challenge was Phil Helean (Griz) and Harry Klock (Cats).
Special thanks were extended for the many sponsors who made the yearly event a great success including and especially Jim Haney with Coors/Coors Light, Tim Carson of Summit Gaming, Sawbucks (Phil Helean), Fleetwood, Spielo, Century Gaming, Barton Brands, Fun Beverage, Scoreboard Pub and Casino, Classic 50 s Casino, Hub/Talbot Insurance, Rainbow Bar and Casino, Pepsi of Kalispell, Fatt Boys, Joe Blogz, Best Bet & Players Club (Pat Kelly).
As the golf tourney came to an end the golfers and all the other day-timers boarded the buses and headed to beautiful downtown Somers to be regaled at the 19th hole party by Bob Lincoln and the Delaires.
If you were fortunate enough to have run into the man himself (Bob Lincoln) he would ve proudly escorted you through his new casino built in record time following last summer's Mac Attack fishing tournament sponsored by Del's. The casino takes the place of his coin operated laundromat and word is it was motivated by Bob's son having a better drop at his new Joe Blogz place down the road in Lakeside.
Most of the activity took place at the outdoor beer garden and a great time was had by all in nearly perfect weather. Although there wasn t much of a formal program, Golf Chairman Pat Kelly did award a couple of prizes to tourney participants in addition to presenting a wooden box filled with a fine selection of cigars to Jim Haney, Montana/Utah Manager for Coors Brewing Company and a longtime tourney sponsor.
When the chow bell rang the crowd hurried to get in line to savor the local favorites Bob had promised prior to the convention. Steak, Caesar salad, cole slaw, special potatoes, grilled sweet onions and desserts featuring locally grown cherries and huckleberries.
The only place he let down was on the promised whitefish which faced a delivery problem. In its place the poor diners had to dine on king crab legs. Yeah, tough duty.
T was a great party, a great day and thoroughly enjoyed by all whether they be golfers, shoppers or a fan of the sporting clays.
With the arrival of the buses it was time to head to the first round of the freeze out poker tournament. back at the convention host hotel in Kalispell.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, September, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.