SKC boosters tee off for scholarships
<p>Joe McDonald, founder of Salish Kootenai College tees off during FridayÕs golf scramble. McDonald partnered with his son, Tom, and grandsons, Chris and Noah to play the tournament.</p>
PABLO – Supporters of Salish Kootenai College and KSKC-TV hit the links for a 22nd straight year on Friday at Silver Fox Golf Course.
The annual event hosted 21 teams—82 golfers—and was “much bigger than usual,” according to Angelique Albert, executive director of the SKC Foundation. The SKC Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises money for student scholarships and other endeavors at the college. According to its website, the foundation raises roughly $260,000 each year just for student scholarships.
“The money from this event goes directly to student scholarships,” Albert said. “... We just help the college fulfill their goals.”
KSKC-TV, the event’s other beneficiary, is a public television station operated by the college and funded by donations.
The event was so big, in fact, that organizers had to send golfers out in two flights to fit them all on the 9-hole golf course.
“We had a great turnout this year,” Ralph Goode, golfer and secretary of the SKC foundation said. “First of all, it’s fun, but it’s for the students.”
Goode was excited about participants who had traveled from far away, such as members of Oregon’s Warm Springs tribe—whose chief golfed with his family—and Washington’s Kalispel tribe.
Notable locals golfed as well, including SKC founder Joe McDonald and the college’s current president Robert DePoe III.
Albert also made note of the tournament’s 22 local business sponsors who helped provide prizes, meals and other tournament amenities for the golfers.
Although it’s not a final figure, Albert estimated that the scramble raised about $16,000 for the SKC Foundation.
RESULTS
1. Tyro/Lambert Team (Arnold Torosian, Ty Domebo, Carla Torosian, & Arnie Sorrell); 2. One Putters (Les Bigcrane, Evan Smith, Barry Hansen, Eli Sheridan); 3. Valley Bank (Jamie Buhr, Al Buhr, Doc Rowe); 4. Eagle Bank (Ralph Goode, JoeDurglo, Robert DePoe, Rob McDonald); 5. Payne West Insurance (Rob Turner, Brad Solonen, Dave Montelius, Gordon Zimmerman); 6. Glacier Bank (Todd Bassett, Gregg Wilcox, Don Lloyd, Steve Clairmont); 7. Rods Harvest Foods (Kyle Salmonson, John Wheeler, Steve Nelson, Tim Reid); 8. Three Cottets & A Thompson (Chad Cottet, Shelly Cottet, Tyson Cottet, Bret Thompson); 9. Handicap Four (Ramona Jewett, Larry Beaman, Cindy Rutherford, DJ Fish); 10. Go Griz! (Corky Sias, Carol Lankford, Jim Durglo).