Unseasonable intermittent showers did little to dampen the enthusiasm of over 140  golfers who took part in the Merritt Centennials annual golf tournament on Saturday.

After a one-year hiatus, the 2016 Cents’ fundraising event saw a return to the beautiful Sagebrush Golf Club, located on the shores of stunning Nicola Lake, and amongst the majestic hills adjacent to the Quilchena Ranch.

Brian Barrett, director of hockey operations for the Centennials and a former player, coach and general manager of the Junior A team, said the Sagebrush staff and the Newmark ownership group could not have been more gracious and generous hosts.

A big-top tent, situated on the 17th fairway, was the site of the delicious catered dinner and 19th hole festivities. (Ian Webster/Herald).

A big-top tent, situated on the 17th fairway, was the site of the delicious catered dinner and 19th hole festivities. (Ian Webster/Herald).

“They provided the golf course and its personnel free of charge, and covered the cost of the catered dinner, the bagged lunches, the rental of the big-top tent and all the tables and chairs,” said Barrett.

“Anybody I talked to was just blown away by the golf course and the event itself. I think next year, we’ll have people standing in line to get into the tournament.”

Cents head coach and GM Joe Martin was equally impressed.

“[Sagebrush general manager] Scott Masse and his staff at the golf course went out of their way to provide a true Sagebrush experience,” said Martin. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a group of people who completely understand the idea of hospitality so well. They really made everyone feel right at home.”

In addition to a round of 18 holes of golf on the world-class, minimalist-styled Sagebrush links, the Centennials fundraiser included an outstanding dinner catered by Uptown Chefs Catering and Events out of Kamloops, a silent auction, and a host of door prizes generously donated by local and area businesses and individuals.

The winning team consisted of Merritt’s (left to right) Jordan Pehr, Payton Schaefer, Josh Yurkowski and Cole Yurkowski. (Ian Webster/Herald).

The winning team consisted of Merritt’s (left to right) Jordan Pehr, Payton Schaefer, Josh Yurkowski and Cole Yurkowski. (Ian Webster/Herald).

Amongst the participants at this year’s Cents golf tournament were a record 22 alumni of the longest continuously-run franchise in the British Columbia Hockey League, including former National Hockey League players and Merritt minor hockey products Eddy Beers and Paul Kruse.

Other notable former Cents players in attendance were Danny Morrissey, Dave Dunnigan, Guy Lanki, Blake Stephens, Ryan Stanimir, Troy Johnston, Payton Schaefer, Colin Gage, Bobby Vermette, Maco Balkovec, Paul Barnes, Al Rushton, Bob Dever, Howie Finch, Chris Forsberg, Rich Brew, Derry and Donneau Menard (sons of Merritt mayor and Centennials club president Neil Menard) and John ‘Butch’ Tent (the longest-serving Centennials player in team history at five seasons).

The team of (left to right) Derry Menard, John ‘Butch’ Tent, Donneau Menard and Eddy Beers finished in second place. (Ian Webster/Herald).

The team of (left to right) Derry Menard, John ‘Butch’ Tent, Donneau Menard and Eddy Beers finished in second place. (Ian Webster/Herald).

For the cadre of past Centennials, the fun-weekend actually started on Friday night, as the players gathered at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena for a social in the team dressing room.

“It was Joe’s idea,” said Barrett. “We had the new team jerseys on display and some refreshments. There were lots of stories being told. Eventually, we went out and got a barbeque and brought it back to the rink. We started cooking up smokies outside at 10 o’clock at night. The guys loved it.”