With the sounds of race cars speeding in the background and low-level commercial airliners flying overhead, PSU Campus Recreation held its Spring Golf Tournament at Heron Lakes Golf Course just off Marine Drive in North Portland on Friday.
Students, faculty, alumni and friends gathered despite the rain clouds and soggy ground to play a round of golf Portland-style. The event had prizes for lowest and highest scores and a poker challenge where players accumulated cards throughout their time on the links, with a prize going to the person holding the best poker hand at the end of the round.
Graduate students Kosti Efftathiou and Kashyap Nutulapati greeted players and got the (golf) ball rolling for the day. Because of the weather, some moving around had to be done, but according to Efftathiou there were only four cancellations.
Jamie Harrell was the overall winner with 76 strokes, and was also the winner of the poker challenge with four aces. Blaine Mcelfish finished with a net score of 78 strokes. Cody Wagner won the longest drive on the 12th hole, and Michael Smith and Darren Haines won the closest to the pin contests on the fourth and 15th holes, respectively.
Although there have been PSU-sponsored golf tournaments in the past, Campus Rec just started hosting the event this year, including the fall tournament held at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Student Intramurals Coordinator and former Vanguard sports editor Skyler Archibald has high hopes for future Campus Rec-sponsored golf tournaments.
“Hopefully we will start making it a regular tradition, with a tournament in the fall and one in the spring,” he said.
With all the golf courses the Portland area has to offer, there are many options for upcoming tournaments, but Heron Lakes is a perfect fit for PSU, according to Archibald, because of its affordability, challenge to participants and its proximity to campus.
“We are always striving to create new events and offer programming to fit our diverse student populations’ needs,” Archibald said.
Information about Campus Rec and the Intramural Programs can be found at www.pdx.edu/recreation.