Participants in the The Jewel at Mackinac Golf Tournament include (from left) Joey Kocur, John Hiller, Wayne Presley, Darren Pang, Randy McKay, Congressman Bart Stupak, and Craig Coxe. The ninth annual Jewel at Mackinac Four Person Scramble Golf Tournament to benefit the Mackinac Island Medical Center and Moses Renal Dialysis Unit drew more than 150 golfers to the 18-hole competition Thursday, August 26. The tournament was played at Mackinac Island's three nine-hole golf facilities, Grand Hotel’s Grand and Woods courses and Wawashkamo links.

Honorary Chairman Victor Callewaert believes the medical center on Mackinac Island is integral to the tourism business.

"People,” he said, “have to be able to travel to our island and feel they can receive top-notch care."

Seven former professional athletes competed in the tournament, including baseball players John Hiller of the Detroit Tigers and Geoff Zahan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and California Angels, and hockey players Craig Coxe of the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks, Randy McKay of the New Jersey Devils, Wayne Presley of the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabers, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, Joey Kocur of the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, and Darren Pang of the Chicago Black Hawks, a former color commentator for ESPN, ABC, and NBC and the St. Louis Blues’ television broadcaster.

Mackinac Golf Tournament are (front, from left) Carole Erbel, Stephanie McGreevy, Mary Jane Barnwell, Nancy Marstiller; (back) Lisa McFarlan, Betty BeDour, Marisa Nelson, Fritz George, and Marie Steensma. (Photograph courtesy of Betty BeDour) The Mackinac Island Medical Center, a collaborative effort of the Mackinac Straits Health System serves a year-around population of about 500 residents and, with summer tourism, treats approximately 4,000 patients a year.

A Medical Center tournament foursome from St. Ignace was Prentiss M. Brown, Jr. (second from right) and his sons, from left, Steve, Charlie, and Ben. The Moses Renal Dialysis Unit has six chairs at Mackinac Straits Health System and serves patients throughout the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. It is a joint venture of Mackinac Straits Health System and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.