The fifth Women “Fore” Women golf tournament was held this past Saturday at Hillcrest Golf Club in Moose Jaw with a full 100 player field.
Cheryl Templeton is one of the originating members of the organizing committee and one of the “20 people or so that help out” with the annual event that started six years ago. Over five events (the group didn’t hold the event in 2020 due to COVID-19) the group has raised over $41,000. The idea of where the money raised should be directed was one of the early decisions made by the group. Seeing a need for financial assistance for female athletes was behind the choice as Templeton explains.
“Disproportion in the amounts of scholarships in the high schools, and I imagine it’s all over the province, going to female athletes that were succeeding in sports. There wasn’t the money available so that’s why we made it our goal,” she told Golf Saskatchewan.
In the first year of the event, the group started with a field of 80 players and was able to donate $500 for one scholarship. In June of this year Women “Fore” Women contributed $3,000 each to six Moose Jaw high school athletes moving onto college in Canada or United States. Templeton said the support of the Hillcrest Golf Club and the city of Moose Jaw has been outstanding and allowed the growth of their event.
“Our businesses and sponsors, and individuals in Moose Jaw have been overwhelming,” she said.
The group expects to be in the $20,000 range in profit from this past Saturday’s tournament, that money will be earmarked for next year’s recipients. Each student must meet the organizations criteria and write an essay. Templeton said this year there was 18 applicants.
She added that the benefactors have been very courteous over the six years.
“They are just so gracious, they are so overwhelmed with getting money at all,” Templeton added. “So appreciative, we get thank you cards back, we get videos back from all the girls. Oh, here I am at university, and this is the ball field I am playing on. They are just so grateful and thankful, a really nice group of girls we’ve given too.”
Templeton also wanted to thank all the players (including family members of recipients) and Jasmine Cameron for her work in organizing the event.