14th Annual Ice Chip Golf Scramble Fields 48 Players

Participants in the annual Ice Chip Golf Scramble on Moran Bay Saturday, March 1, enjoyed watching a freighter passing through the channel and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mobile Bay from Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, coming into port.

The course for the 14th annual Ice Chip Golf Scramble on Moran Bay in St. Ignace Saturday, March 1, was perhaps the most challenging yet, say event coordinators, owing to the many slabs of ice pushed up along the bay.

"It was one of the best courses we've had because those slabs of ice provided some obstacles for the players," said Mark Sposito, who, with Jimbo Brown and JoJo Visnaw, helped design the nine-hole course stretching from the back of Mackinac Grille Restaurant to the American Legion Park.

The tournament was an 18-hole scramble with 48 players, in 24 teams.

Many players were new to the tournament this year, said Janet Peterson of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, the main sponsor for the event.

Chuck Champion of Moran and Kenny Hall of Newport were the overall winners, scoring a 62. The duo shot a 29 for the first nine holes and 33 in the second round. The men placed second in last year's scramble.

The team of Chuck Champion (left) and Kenny Hall (right), with their caddie, Jim Sayles, won the 14th annual Ice Chip Golf Scramble on the ice of Moran Bay Saturday, March 1. The team had an overall score of 62.

The weather for the tournament was great, said Mrs. Peterson. The sun peeked out in the morning for the start of the tournament, but dropped behind clouds for most of the day. Although light snow fell briefly, there was hardly any wind.

"The combination of the course and the weather provided what I think was the best tournament we've ever had," said Mr. Sposito.

"Overall, it went great. It was a perfectly beautiful day," said Mrs. Peterson.

About $500 was raised from the event for the Chamber of Commerce.

There were four flights during the scramble. The following are top places in each flight:

1st Flight: 1. Chuck Champion and Ken Hall

2. Jimbo Brown and Andy Brown

One of the more stylish sleds used to pull equipment around during the golf scramble was Todd Insley (right) and Chris Paquin's "Dukes of Hazzard" sled, painted orange and detailed like the General Lee car from the television show. It was equipped with a horn, radio, tee holders, a cooler, and even an ashtray. The duo took second place in the third flight.

3. Mark Sposito and Scott Winkelman

2nd Flight:

1. JoJo Visnaw and Kris Brown

2. Merlin Doran and Jason Marshall

3. Tom Eisler and Dick Huskey

3rd Flight:

1. Lori Raquepaw and Gene Morningstar

2. Todd Insley and Chris Paquin 3. Sid Hawkins and Larry Byearski

4th Flight:

1. Dan O'Brien and Aggie O'Brien

2. Barb Green and Sue Green

3. Janet Brown and Nicole Brown

First place winners received wind jackets provided by Budweiser, sponsor of the Ice Chip Scramble. After the last team finished the course, other prizes, including T-shirts, ferry tickets, and dinners at restaurants, were raffled to players. All prizes were provided by local donors.