WCCC Golf Tournament Bridges Sport and Student Support
For the past 18 years, golfers have congregated in the St. Croix Valley in July for one reason: to participate in the Washington County Community College Golf Tournament, an event that simultaneously represents camaraderie, competition, and support for the student community.
What started as a somewhat modest get-together to raise funds for less fortunate students has since become “quite a significant event,” shares Mike Ellis, Calais City Manager and prior golf professional at St. Croix Country Club, where the event is held. “It’s very well supported from the club and from the community,” Ellis said. “It’s one of the more favorite events down there.”
Teams comprised of golfers from both the local and extended community come to compete in the tournament. Adding to the excitement is a brand-new 2019 vehicle offered by co-sponsor Ian Pratt of Pratt dealership in Calais – the prize of a hole-in-one. “Ian’s done a really great job of supporting the event. We’ve yet to give a vehicle away, but we’d love to,” Ellis said. “The odds are starting to stack up in favor of it happening.”
Numerous other prizes await the winners of the four divisions as well as those who get the records of the day, with the size of the prize pool based on the number of entrants. More valuable than prizes, though, is the spirit of the tournament, as Tina Erskine, WCCC’s Director of Human Resources, Development, and Communication, explains. “People call in February to align their schedules with it. For some, it’s all about the camaraderie and a fun day of golf all for student scholarships, Erskine said.
All scholarship donations go directly toward student scholarships at WCCC. Scholarships in the name of individuals, businesses, and organizations have been created by local donors, amounting to more than $100,000 thus far. Longtime supporters are Andel Construction LLC, Ken & Jane Brooks, Calais Ace Home center, Calais Motor Inn, Downeast Credit Union, Dunkin Donuts, Ed & Vicki Farrell, Hammond Lumber Company, Brian Hoops, DDS, International Motel, Mingo Construction, PCT Communications, Anne Perry, Riverside Electric, Inc, Roger’s Auto Sales, Inc., Sunrise Eye Care, Tammi Smith Tax & Accounting, Quoddy Pilots, WCCC Student Senate, WQDY, Inc. and Calais IGA.
This year’s tournament will be held on Saturday, July 13th. There will be two shotgun starts, one at 7:30a.m. and one at 1p.m. The tournament is a four-person scramble with four divisions. To qualify, teams need a combined index of 30. To register your team, call the St. Croix County Pro Shop at 454-8875.
If you would like to make a direct-to-student contribution for the scholarship fund, contact Tina Erskine at 454-1002 or make the check payable to the WCCC 2019 Scholarship Fund and mail to Washington Community College, C/O Tina Erskine, One College Drive, Calais, ME 04619.