Revamped event at Mill River triples participation, multiplies profits

MILL RIVER, PEI – Sept. 17, 2013 – OMD Construction’s team – formed of golfers Jamie Caissie, Jason Perry, Ghislain Bernard and Marcel Landry – captured the championship of the 8th annual Acadian Golf Tournament of PEI, held at Mill River Saturday, Sept. 14, with an impressive score of 61, therefore 11 under the course’s par of 72.

But it’s Erma Arsenault of Wellington that ended up being the true star of the day, getting the tournament’s only hole-in-one and receiving the prize for the person having gotten the closest to Hole no. 5. In addition, her team, The Robichauds – formed of Arsenault, husband Gabriel Arsenault, nephew Guy Gallant and wife Tina Robichaud – took home the tournament’s third prize with their 68 strokes.

The Bel Âge team, formed of Marcella and Urbain Poirier along with Louis and Yolande Richard, finished in second place with their score of 66, which was 6 under par.

The atmosphere at the reorganized tournament was jovial and friendly; all golfers appeared to be quite pleased with the event, proving that organizers made the right decision to completely revamp the tournament. In fact, their vast efforts bore fruit as this year’s event succeeded in almost tripling its participation, thereby ensuring the greatest success for the event so far.

The 108 people who registered got to play Mill River’s amazing 18-hole course under a beautiful blue sky and with picture-perfect temperatures, completely avoiding the previous day’s wind and rain. This year’s event represents a huge change from previous tournaments, which were held at a nine-hole course that has to be played twice to complete a round. This year’s best-ball tournament was also held on a Saturday afternoon rather than a Sunday morning.

Organizers also succeeded in recruiting more hole sponsors this year; their contributions were added to the main sponsorship cash given by Evangeline-Central Credit Union. It is estimated that the tournament netted $7,000 in profits; the whole amount will donated to the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie, the organization that coordinates the tournament.

“Even if the OMD Construction team won the championship, the true winners of this tournament will of course be the young athletes who participate in the Jeux de l’Acadie since the funds we raised will help cover their athletic training, purchase their uniforms, pay coaching costs and ensure the overall operation of the organization,” said Carole Gallant, president of the Regional Committee. “We are therefore truly thankful to all those who participated in one way or another in the organization and hosting of this event, including our official partner, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI.”

She admits that some adjustments will undoubtedly have to be made to some of the logistics for future tournaments, but organizers feel they’ve found the right site as well as a formula that generally meets all needs.

“From our perspective, we are extremely pleased to see such as a large number of entrepreneurs and individual golfers from many regions of the Island participating in this year’s tournament,” noted Jeannette Arsenault, spokesperson for the Acadian Chamber, in its second year as tourney co-host. “We are very proud to have been able to work with the Jeux de l’Acadie Regional Committee to give this beautiful tournament a new breath of fresh air and having been able to find a large quantity of prizes for the winners as well as door prizes.”

She believes the tournament can’t help but improve from year to year, but she too agrees things have gotten off to a great start with the move to Mill River and the change to a Saturday afternoon tourney. “The organizing committee and all the volunteers did a superb job and deserve our praises. It was a very professional and well-organized event!”

OTHER PRIZES

The following prizes were also presented after the tournament.

Closest to the gas can: Rob McConnell
Closest to the mascot Acajoux: Martin Marcoux
Closest to the pin (women): Caroline Gaudet
Closest to the pin (men): Nicholas Gallant
Longest drive (women): Marcella Poirier
Longest drive (men): Marcel Landry
Prize for the funniest team photo: Les Intelligents
Draw winner: Gabriel Arsenault
Tee bottle guessing game winner: Carlo Lavoie.

-30-

CUTLINE 1: The OMD Construction team won the championship in last Saturday’s 8th Acadian Golf Tournament of PEI at Mill River Golf Course. Seen from left are Carole Gallant, president of the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie, with winning golfers Jason Perry, Jamie Caissie, Marcel Landry and Ghislain Bernard, shown receiving their championship plaque from Alfred Arsenault, general manager of the Evangeline-Central Credit Union, the main sponsor of the event. The team completed their best-ball run with a score of 61.

CUTLINE 2: With its 66 strokes, the team Bel Âge captured second place in the Acadian Golf Tournament. Carole Gallant, left, president of the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie, congratulates golfers Yolande Richard, Marcella and Urbain Poirier, and Louis Richard. Event sponsor Alfred Arsenault, general manager of the Evangeline-Central Credit Union, was also on hand to congratulate the team.

CUTLINE 3: The Robichaud team earned third place in the Acadian Golf Tournament, thanks to its score of 68. Carole Gallant, left, president of the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie, congratulated team members Erma and Gabriel Arsenault and Guy Gallant. (Absent is Tina Robichaud.) Alfred Arsenault, general manager of the Evangeline-Central Credit Union, helped present the prizes.

CUTLINE 4: Erma Arsenault, centre, was the star of last Saturday’s Acadian Golf Tournament. She hit an amazing hole-in-one at No. 5, thereby winning the prize for getting her ball closest to the hole. Carole Gallant, president of the PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie, and Alfred Arsenault, general manager of the Evangeline-Central Credit Union, congratulated her heartily.

For more information:
Jeannette Gallant
Coordinator
PEI Regional Committee of Les Jeux de l’Acadie
(902) 854-7435
jeuxacadie@gov.pe.ca