Cardinal Classic raises travel funds for SSHS

The Cardinal Classic golf scramble took place last week at the Oregon Trail Country Club on Friday.  The sponsored event is a long-running tradition in Soda Springs, and gives 18 teams the chance to vie for a coveted spot as the best in the area over the 18 holes.  In addition to the overall team winner, the scramble also recognizes a number of winners for things like the longest put, longest drive, and so on.  As is often the case, the “Hole in One” prize went unclaimed this year, though there were reportedly a number of close calls on that front.

The Cardinal Classic is the primary fundraiser for athletic travel costs at Soda Springs High School, and is used to cover the transportation expenses for team athletic travel throughout the school year, as well as lodging at the event destinations when needed.  As inflation and tight controls over state funding for a range of educational and extracurricular expenses seemingly become more of an issue every year, events like the Cardinal Classic are critical to the district’s ability to give its students the opportunity to pursue their athletic dreams on a team and individual basis.  

The 18 hole scramble is “geared toward a good time,” according to the organizers, and so it also features the entertaining “bonus” of selling mulligans to players for $10 (which seemed to be in steady demand over the afternoon).  Each player is allowed to purchase one mulligan for each 9 holes and use them as needed.  

The tournament kicked off bright and early at 9:00 a.m. and while the conditions were a bit breezy for pinpoint precision, the wind also helped keep the course a perfect shade of cool over the morning and into the afternoon.  

“This tournament is where funds for our teams to travel for sports comes from,” Superintendent Scott Muir said.  “It’s always a great time, and it’s huge for us in terms of being able to support our athletes as they travel the state.”  

Beyond the teams themselves, which each paid in at $250 per fivesome, the tournament makes it possible for businesses or individuals who don’t necessarily have a golf team to field to sponsor a hole on the course at $100, with many holes having multiple sponsors.    

Sponsors for the even include ORION, ITAFOS, Advantage Plus Federal Credit Union, NA Degerstrom, Kiewit Mining Group, Beyer, Tuner Industries, Valley Office Systems, Oregon Trail Country Club, Western States Equipment, Babe’s Dirt Work, Shimmick, Cobblestone Inn and Suites, Headwaters, Porters Pub, Liberty Dodge+, Caribou Ford, and Morco.  

At the end of the day, winners were announced as follows:

The overall team winner for the tournament was the team headed by Jake Barthlome, which golfed a fantastic team 54 in best ball play.  The second place team was Ty Allen’s with a great 58, and the team from Headwaters was just one shot back at a fine 59.  Advantage Plus, Itafos, and Babe’s Dirt Work all put up dandy scores of 62; Morco and Degerstrom #2 put up scores of 64; Mike Morrow’s team scored a cool 66; Degerstrom #1 and Shimmick picked up nice 69s; 73s were earned by Kiewit #1 and Western States; and Turner Industries rounded out the scores at 75.  

Men’s closest to the pin on #8 were Derek Birch with an impressive 17”.  Jesse Ackerman was third with 15’6”, and Dan Packer was third at 47’3”.

Women’s longest putt winner was Liz Shore with 34’7”, and Jennie Davis with 16’4”.

Men’s longest putt order had Taylor Adams at 40’10”, Tom Fueschel at 23’2”, and Spencer Rowe at 11’5”.

Without posted distances, the longest drives for women were Liz Shore and Jennie Davis, and for men it was David Smith, Kent Carson, Nick Potter, and Junior Horsley.