Sowa Memorial Golf Outing a rousing success
by Frank Solle

A picture-perfect late afternoon turned into an even better evening as 52 golfers, divided into 13 four-person teams, did battle on the Beaver Island Golf Course on August 4th in the First Annual Jerry Sowa Memorial Golf Outing sponsored by the Port of St. James Association.

Warm temperatures, calm conditions, and a well-groomed course which benefited greatly from recent rains, combined to make this inaugural event as good as it could be — a fitting tribute to honor the memory of Jerry Sowa, a man who always tried to be as good as he could be.

“Jerry was on the Board of Directors of PJSA,” said event coordinator Buck Ridgeway. “But more than that, he was a member of Beaver Island.

“In thinking of a way to honor him, I knew this was the best way to go. And look how great the conditions are. I think Jerry is watching over us.”

Once again it was the team built around former PGA pro Larry Roy that took top honors, carding an impressive five-under-par 30. While all local golfers know Larry’s game is rock-solid, it was his 13-year-old son Patrick who starred this day as his drive on the par-three fourth hole proved to be the closest to the pin of the entire field. In addition to his $25 share of the winners $100 first-place prize, Patrick added $52 for his fourth-hole feat.

Helping the Roys to collect six birdies on their way to first place were Bob Simpson and Elwood Baker.

The winning team was presented with a plaque by Jerry’s wife, Shirley. Once their names are engraved, the plaque will be displayed at the BICG clubhouse.

Claiming the second-place prize of $60 with a respectable three-under-par 32 were Ron Wojan, Jeff Powers, Bill Detwiler, and Charlie Green.

Two teams tied for third at two-under-par 33. The crew of Mike and Jeremy Sowa, Joel Meintsma, and John Robert walked away with the $40 third-place winnings after claiming a one-stroke, sudden-victory win with a fine birdie on hole number one against the team of Rob Latimer, Mike Smith, Johnny Runberg, and Frank Solle.

In a great show of support for this event, the varied field included two all-women teams, one split fifty-fifty, and one with three men and one woman, as well as the family team of Jeff Mestelle and his three elementary-aged stepchildren, Gus, McCauley, and Ireland. “It wasn’t fair,” Jeff complained afterwards in his ever-so-quiet voice. “According to the rules we could only use three of Ireland’s drives.”

Ridgeway, somewhat of a course regular, further acknowledged the support for this event when he stated, “There were people here I’ve never seen on the course.”

Given the great turnout for this year’s Outing, Ridgeway said next year the field would be expanded to include a few more teams.

As the final cars departed the course in the setting summer sun, Ridgeway capped it all by saying, “It was just a fabulous day.”