For the third time in as many years, the Kelowna husband-and-wife team of Glen and Debbie Cross topped the leaderboard at the Merritt Golf and Country Club’s annual mixed open golf tournament on Sunday.
In 2011 and 2012, the talented twosome from the Okanagan locked up the overall low gross title. This year, the couple went one better, shooting a lights out 61 (factored score 59.16) in the Scotch two-ball event to win the overall low net competition.
The Crosses made this year’s tournament a real family affair, as they brought along two of their sons, Jamie and Cory, and the boys’ girlfriends, Kim Ranger and Brittni Dieno. Cory and Brittni placed fifth in the low net competition.
“We’re hoping to get the rest of our kids here next year,” Debbie said with a laugh. In addition to Jamie and Cory, the Crosses have two more sons and a daughter.
The Crosses had to be at the top of their game to win this year’s overall low net title as Merritt’s own Lois Ward and Rob Schaefer were a very close second with a factored score of 60.36, followed by Princeton’s Dennis and Tanya St. Jean at 62.00.
Winner of the overall low gross on Sunday was the Princeton team of Vern and Heather Hornell (74), followed by Merritt’s Brian and Audrey Niehaus in second (76), and locals Dana Egan and Pat Chadwick in third (80).
A total of 29 two-player teams took part in the 2013 MGCC mixed open with 12 of the pairings coming from out-of-town.
Next up is the Coyote Collision Men’s Open, slated for August 10-11.
