Former professional athletes (from left) Joey Kocur, Wayne Presley, Geoff Zahn, and Craig Coxe and honorary chairman Mickey Mortimer. The eighth annual Jewel at Mackinac Scramble Golf Tournament to benefit the Mackinac Island Medical Center and Moses Renal Dialysis Clinic was a success as more than 130 golfers participated in the 18-hole competition Thursday, August 27.

The tournament was played at Mackinac Island's three nine-hole golf courses that included Grand Hotel's Jewel and Woods courses and Wawashkamo, Michigan's oldest continuously played golf facility.

Honorary Chairman Mickey Mortimer, a retired state representative, served as a member of the state House Appropriations Committee when the medical center was initially funded, and he continues to support the Medical Center and the St. Ignace hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System, through his participation in the golf tournament.

Former professional football player Brock Gutierrez and his wife, Holly. Six former professional athletes competed in the tourney, including John Hiller of the Detroit Tigers; Geoff Zahn of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and California Angels; Brock Gutierres of the Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions; Joey Kocur of the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks; Craig Coxe of the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks; Wayne Presley of the Chicago Black Hawks, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabers, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

"I enjoy coming to Mackinac Island to participate in this event and also play in the vintage base ball game in July," said John Hiller, of the annual game at Fort Mackinac. "I live in Iron Mountain and love the Upper Peninsula. There isn't a better place to live."

St. Ignace/Arnold Line foursome of (left) Nancy Brown, Krista Brown, Lora Brown, and Diggy Clement. "This is a great event and would not be possible without the efforts of the 12-member committee and more than 40 volunteers, and 50 sponsors," said Rod Nelson, CEO at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace.

The Mackinac Island Medical Center, a collaborative effort of the Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center, serves a year-around population of 600 residents and with the summer tourism season, has a patient flow of approximately 4,000 patients per year.

The Moses Renal Dialysis Unit is a three-chair unit that serves patients throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. It is a joint venture of the Mackinac Straits Hospital and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
John Hiller, former Detroit Tigers pitcher, and his wife, Linette.
The Hepkers (from left), Craig, Sue, and Eric, and former professional hockey player Wayne Presley.