Cougars golf tournament shatters record

The Fourth Annual Prince George Cougars Alumni Hospital Golf Tournament has broken the six figure mark!

The record-breaking tournament raised $102,061.16, which shattered the 2014 total of just under $70,000.

“We were looking at that $70,000 level,” says Tournament Chairman Gary Samis, “I knew we were going to be in a great position as we went into the player auction, but when we got the final number I couldn’t believe it. You always dream of hitting over six figures, and there we were.”

The two-day tournament benefits the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, and has provided funds for equipment like a diagnostic SPECT CT camera in the past.

“Spirit of the North had identified a piece of equipment they needed in the Cardiac Wing of the Hospital, and we hit that target. We actually exceeded it,” explains Samis, “We have all this additional revenue that is currently being looked at for some emergency room equipment as well.”

The new equipment is actually a Medtronic Paceart Optima System and some Blood Pressure Monitors, which will aid early detection and diagnosis of cardiac conditions in people of all ages.

This year also saw a record number of alumnus turn out to hit the links, including Dan Hamhuis, Eric Brewer, Blair Betts, Tyler Bouck, Nick Drazenovic, Ed Dempsey, and Eric Hunter.

Samis also praised the effort of Alumni Club President Tyler Brough in bringing some big names back to the City.

“When we see numbers like this given back to the community they played their junior hockey in, it’s an added incentive to return. It’s also a great chance to get back and meet their comrades that they played with and see some of the new alumni.”

The Alumni Auction alone raised more than $67,000, more than a quarter of the $232,000 the Tournament has donated over four years.

The official cheque presentation will take place this Friday at the PG Cougars home opener against the Everett Silvertips.