A solid field of pros, amateurs, family and friends took to the links at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club last weekend in support of the Connor Richey Legacy Fund.
The Vancouver Golf Tour hosted the Connor Richey Memorial at the club in Roberts Creek. Richey passed away in a tragic accident last August. The loss has had a huge impact on the golfing community. Richey was just getting set to head to Texas to attend school on a golf scholarship when he died.
Richey was a fixture on the Vancouver Golf Tour and a beloved member at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club, which made the event all the more memorable and special to all involved.
The weekend tournament started with a scramble on Friday as well as amateur and pro events on Friday and Saturday.
Kevin Stinson won the pro event at -4, followed by Oliver Tubb at -3 and Bryn Parry and John Aasen in a two-way tie for third at -2.
Chris Lutes, who grew up on the Coast and is now a pro at the Northview Golf and Country Club, finished in a tie for seventh at +6.
Richey’s best friend and fellow VGT tour player Jesse Ostrosky finished in a tie for 10th at +12, Sunshine Coast head pro Jim Pringle finished in a tie for 13th with assistant pro from the Sechelt Golf and Country Club Jonathan Wiegner at +16 while Sunshine Coast assistant pro Bill McDonough finished 15th at +20.
Jacob Bland won the amateur event at +10, Keenan Flemming finished tied for second at +13. Other Sunshine Coast and Sechelt golfers included Myles Killackey (+20), Ken Hincks (+21), George McGibbon (+21), Stu Clements (+23), Greg Johnston (+24), Cam McAllister (+27), Jeremy Dempster (+27), Pat Gaines (+28), Keith Hachey (+29), Fred Rupert (+42), Tom Phillips (+44), Dave Netsman (+46), Jeff James (+49), Clark Graham (+50), Pat Leech (+54) and Matt Pence (+80).
“Everything went really well. I think it was just great that the Vancouver Golf Tour came up here and remembered Connor with this event,” said Connor’s father George. “I think it’s just a great thing.”
Pringle said the course was firm, fast and treacherous and the pros loved the difficult course.
“The pros loved it. In fact, our winner Kevin Stinson said it was better conditions that the Canadian Open,” said Pringle. “It was a fun weekend. Certainly emotional, but it was great to have Jan and George here. I got to play a round with Jessie and Chris, so that was just a lot of fun and very memorable all around.”
