More than 200 golfers took part in the Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament at the North Battleford Golf and Country Club in support of the Battlefords Health Care Foundation.
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the tournament in honour of the late Wayne Pruden, an autobody mechanic who worked in the Battlefords and made a lasting impact on the community.
“He helped with hockey, golfing, skiing in winter with all the kids’ sports, school activities, helped build a school playground,” said Sue Pruden-McIvor, who was married to Pruden.
“It’s an honor, a privilege to see that,” said Pruden-McIvor of her late husband’s impact even 30 years later. “My children all live in North Battleford, so hopefully some of them are recruiting, impacting, encouraging young people to be part of it as well.”
(Image Credit: Battlefords Healthcare Foundation)
While the tournament was hit by rain for a short time, Pruden-McIvor said it was still a successful day on the course.
“It was a nice day. It turned out to be sunny after. So, we’re seeing a bit of a change in the people that are golfing, more young people, which is awesome,” she said.
“People my age, a lot of them are deciding it’s too long of a day. They’ve had a huge commitment for years, so it’s a bit of a changing of the guard, shall I say. With the tournament itself, it’s all sort of self-sufficient now. The majority of the golfers just keep coming back.”
In the end, Chad Olson and his team came out as tournament champions.
(Image Credit: Battlefords Healthcare Foundation)
Pruden-McIvor has also served on the board of the Battlefords Health Care Foundation, making the annual tournament special to her for that reason as well.
“It makes me very proud to be part of the fundraising for the Battlefords Healthcare Foundation, because as we all know, we always need funds for all of the equipment,” said Pruden-McIvor, mentioning her nursing background.
“That has given me different insight into the needs of what healthcare needs as far as fundraising. So, I’m very proud to be part of that fundraising activity.”
Funds raised from this year’s tournament will go toward the purchase of a urinalysis microscope for the laboratory department at Battlefords Union Hospital. The equipment will help healthcare practitioners identify infections, kidney conditions and diabetes.
(Image Credit: Battlefords Healthcare Foundation)
As the tournament reaches its 30th year, Pruden-McIvor said she is happy to see what began as a “very emotional journey” for her family to have a lasting impact on the Battlefords.
“Not only my family, but the Dokes and some of those would have been his Wayne’s sister, Val Doke. It started at the very emotional tournament, and it’s become just something that we’re proud of.”
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