​Ainsdale Golf Classic raises almost $30,000 for local sports and Ripley school

The sixth annual Ainsdale Golf Classic, held Saturday, has raised $28,115 for minor sports groups and Ripley-Huron Community School.

To date, this event has raised $83,545 for youth in sport in the community.

“We are thrilled with the turn-out,” said Taylor Candler, who owns and operates Ainsdale Golf Course with her husband, Charles. “We had almost 200 golfers out for the two rounds: 84 at the 8 a.m. start, and 100 at the 2 p.m. start.”

All proceeds go to the following organizations:
 

• Kincardine Minor Hockey
• Kincardine Minor Baseball
• Kincardine Minor Soccer
• Kincardine Skating Club
• Kincardine Kippers Swim Team
• Kincardine and District Senior School Athletics
• Ripley-Huron Community School

The Candlers thanked their major sponsors, Superheat, the Power Workers’ Union, and Shoreline Power Group.

They said the pace of play in the morning was phenomenal, and thanked all the players for stepping up their game so they could prepare for the 2 p.m. round.

“We essentially had two tournaments going in one day and we couldn't have done it without all the incredible volunteers who helped out,” said Taylor.

The volunteers included:
 

• Gil Graham
• Matt Peterson
• Jill Fraser and children
• Mandy VanHardeveld
• Julie Thompson
• Megan and Jay Alers
• Stacey and Owen Nixon
• Ken Lewis
• Several girls with Kincardine Minor Baseball
• Mike and Mel Roppel
• Jolene and Sloane Murphy
• Kylie Pike
• Jason MacDonald
• Kathy Long

The Candlers also thanked their staff for working so hard all day.

For the 8 a.m. start, the top team included Travis McLaughlin, Mitch Jarvis, Scott Austin and Ryan Fraser with a massive score of minus-20!

The putting contest winner was Steven Gilroy with a score of 20 points!

The elimination draw had four big prizes. Taking fourth, was Dave Neilipovitz, third was Eric Dagelman, second was Mark Weissenboeck, and the huge first prize went to Lana Colley.

For the 2 p.m. start, there were two top teams, with a score of minus-18: Tyler Royle, Josh Catto, Brandon Wilson, and Greg Gray; and Brett Catto, Josh Gauthier, Nick Seiler, and Cody Britton. The Candlers ultimately did a retrogression to determine a winner and it went to Royle, Catto, Wilson and Gray.

The putting contest winner was Conner Haist.

In the elimination draw, the winner of the ladies’ package was Vanessa Andrew; in third place for the men’s package was Doug Kennedy, in second was Jim Lisk, and first place went to Bernie Haines.

There were 31 items on the silent auction table, with some excellent bids.