KPU Campus News - Patrick Dooley Memorial Tournament Raises $11k
10 years ago, Patrick Dooley was a promising young golfer almost graduating from high school.
Patrick was excited about a career in the golf industry and planned to enroll in KPU Turf Management diploma Fall 2008 when he died of a sudden illness. His family began the Patrick Dooley Memorial Scholarship Fund to annually support a worthy KPU Turf Management student. On April 27, 2018 the KPU Turf Club hosted the 3rd annual Patrick Dooley Memorial Golf Tournament to raise funds for this scholarship and celebrate Patrick’s memory.
The Scramble shotgun began at 1:00 PM for 88 golfers with sunny, warm skies over a perfectly groomed Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond. Thank you to Steve May and crew! Ksenia Thurston of KPU Turf Club and Donna Metz of Dooley clan entertained golfers with an array of games and activities through the day. Besides the usual KP, Long Drives, Putting and Chipping contests, we used our intellect to guess # of tees in a jar, weight of pennies in a jar, Toonie Toss and how many balls would be lost by all through the day. Highlight was the Tiki Bar on 8 Tee sponsored and manned by Westerra/Vermeer BC staff, who mixed us up some fabulous tropical delights while we smashed at the Marshmallow Drive contest on adjacent 18 Tee.
“Ian Murray shows gallery how to drive a marshmallow” - image courtesy Stan Kazymerchyk
Attendees were split between turf industry and Dooley family and all enjoyed a terrific Mayfair Lakes buffet dinner. Turf industry prize winners included Tab Buckner, Dan Fast, Jason Bird, Wanda Houston, Duane Sharp, Cam Watt, Rory Rousseau, Mike Kiener, Brad Newell, Alex Dube, Cliff Glowsky and Eric Benson.
“Rory Rousseau, Cam Watt, Jason Bird & Duane Sharpe” - image courtesy Stan Kazymerchyk
The 2018 Patrick Dooley Award winner was announced, Ksenia Thurston. Ksenia has been a model student, active Turf Club member in every activity and Groundsman at Surrey Golf Club. In case you think your life is busy, Ksenia also manages a family of 5 around school, Turf Club, work and workouts. She plans to move to the Interior after graduation next year to work towards being a Golf Superintendent.
“Westerra/Vermeer Tiki Bar staff & games volunteers” - image courtesy Stan Kazymerchyk
We ended the day with great news that we raised about $11,000 for the Patrick Dooley Memorial Scholarship Fund, which bumped us into position to now award 2 annual $1,000 KPU turf scholarships in perpetuity! Thank you to the turf industry guys who brought teams to this event: Jason Hooper, Duane Sharp, Scott Kraemer, Dan Fast, Mike Kiener, Nik Wall, Duncan Longridge, Josh Carlsen and John Taylor.
“ Turf industry with Steve & Preet Dooley” - image courtesy Jerry Rousseau
Special thanks to the turf industry Tee Sponsors:
WCTA, BCGSA, NCGOA, BCGA, JCL Ag Services, Premier Pacific Seeds, BC Plant Health Care, Farm Tek, TDS West, Keso, Taylors Turf Care, RF Binnie, Terra Equipment, Oakcreek, Westerra/Vermeer BC, Terralink, Target Specialty Products, Prairie Coast Equipment, English Lawns, Evergro, Target, Brett Young, Sports Turf Canada, West Coast Golf Group, Western Turf Farms, EZ-Go/Cushman and Corix!
And of course the KPU Turf Club members who worked hard to make this day a huge success:
Carolyn Reitzel, Josh Carlsen, Duncan Longridge, Brennan Lessick, Jason Morgan and Ksenia Thurston.
Stan Kazymerchyk
KPU Turf Management Instructor
editor's note: Stan would never think to recognize his own efforts so we'll do it for you. Thanks Stan, this event would not happen without you!
"Aloha oe" - image courtesy Jerry Rousseau