Bobcat BIRT Cup breaks fundraising record

Rate This Article

The sixth installment of the IG Wealth Management Bobcat BIRT Cup reached a new milestone.

The alumni/charity event raised a record $84,000 on Friday, July 7 at Wheat City Golf Course. The proceeds go towards Bobcat student-athletes; Baldur Baseball Association (diamond upgrades); Carberry Royals Baseball Team (diamond upgrades); CNIB (guide dogs for the blind or partially sighted); Melita Golf Course (course upgrades); Westman Youth Football Association (Boyd Stadium upgrades) and Westman VOLT Hockey (assisting youth with disabilities).

This summer’s charity best-ball spectacle featured a double shotgun start with a whopping 284 golfers taking part.

The foursome of Matt DeGagne, Drew Jones, Chris Sitko and Keith Van Walleghem captured the championship after shooting 18-under par.

BIRT is short for basics, intensity, respect and team. Brandon University Sports Wall of Famer, the late Neil Andrews came up with the acronym when he was Scott Hlady’s baseball coach. Hlady is a former Bobcat hockey player and founded the BIRT Cup. He ran the tournament independently for a decade before handing it over to his alma mater.

Over $340,000 has been raised for various community causes since the Bobcats took over the prestigious BIRT Cup in 2018.

Mulligan Sales, presented by McMunn & Yates Building Supplies

  • Vegas Golden Knights’ William Karlsson signed jersey + McMunn & Yates $250 gift card. WINNER: PJ Crane
  • Team Canada Mark Scheifele signed jersey + McMunn & Yates $250 gift card. WINNER: Brad McConnell

Raffle Ticket Prizes, presented by Meighen Haddad

  • 2 tickets to Winnipeg Jets’ 2023-24 regular season home game + Radisson Winnipeg Hotel Stay. WINNER: Patrick Pulak
  • 4 rounds at Lakeview Hecla Golf Course + Winnipeg Victoria Inn Hotel Stay + Assiniboia Downs (4 x $50 gift cards). WINNER: Richard Shadlock
  • New York Islanders Ryan Pulock signed jersey + 2 x $25 gift cards at Sporty’s + 2 complimentary green fees at Clear Lake Golf Course (valid Monday-Thursday only). WINNER: Geoff Kroeker
  • Vegas Golden Knights Logan Thompson signed jersey + $250 Canadian Tire gift card. WINNER: Jeremy Matuszewski

Online/LIVE Auction, sponsored by Taylor Auctions.

  • Team Canada Connor Bedard signed jersey. WINNER: Carberry Sandhills Electric
  • San Francisco 49ers Joe Montana signed jersey + NFL game ball. WINNER: Anonymous
  • LA Kings Drew Doughty signed jersey. WINNER: Dakota Scheirlinck
  • Toronto Maple Leafs jersey signed by 41 alumni members, including Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler: WINNER: Carberry Sandhills Electric
  • Montreal Canadiens Joel Edmundson signed jersey. WINNER: Riley Phillips

Traditional Silent Auction Prizes with Scotiabank matching sales up to $2,000:

  • McPhail Travel $250 travel voucher + WestJet roundtrip flight for two + 2 tickets to Vegas Golden Knights’ 2023-24 regular season home game + 2 x $50 VISA gift cards. WINNER: Rob Fowler
  • 2 rounds at Clear Lake Golf Course (valid Monday-Thursday only) + 1 night stay at Elkhorn Resort + 2 x $50 gift cards to Nine Restaurant and Lounge + 2 x $25 gift cards at Sporty’s. WINNER: Jayla Calder
  • Matt Dunstone framed signed Brier jersey + 2 championship weekend passes to 2024 Brier in Regina + three-night stay at The Atlas Hotel + 2 x $50 VISA gift cards. WINNER: Skinny
  • Winnipeg Goldeyes Game Suite (21 tickets) + autographed baseball by Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Nate Pearson. WINNER: Dave Morningstar
  • Winnipeg Blue Bombers Zach Collaros signed jersey + 4 Blue Bomber game tickets w/ sideline passes + Best Western Pembina Hotel Stay x 2. WINNER: Jeff Albert
  • Calgary Flames Jonathan Huberdeau signed jersey. WINNER: Brad McConnell

Online 50-50, presented by Sunrise Credit Union.

  • EARLY BIRD WINNER: M S Martel Ticket # C-1925 for the Kerri Einarson Team Canada curling signed jersey + Maple Leaf Foods 1-year supply of bacon (52 packages)
  • GRAND PRIZE WINNER: PJ Crane

Guardian Fencing Putting Green Contest

  • Wheat City Golf Course bag: WINNER: Bryce Scott
  • Westoba Credit Union Prize Package + 4 rounds of golf at Souris: WINNER: Rick ‘The Hammer’ Thomson

Various FREE contests on the course:

  • Hole 1 Longest Putt – 2 rounds at Carman Golf Club + Syl’s Drive Inn gift cards (2 x $20) + TSN his and hers golf clothing. WINNER: Scott Hlady
  • Hole 3 – Closest to the Pin – Pratt’s Prize Package. WINNER: Brett Nohr
  • Scotiabank Shootout at Hole 4 – Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey autographed framed photo + Brandon Wheat Kings’ SpongeBob Jersey + Zakhar Polshakov signed stick + Landmark Cinemas movie passes and medium popcorn x 2. WINNER: Cal Vanderschuit
  • Hole 6 Closest to the Pin – Maple Leaf Foods 1-year supply of bacon (52 packages). WINNER: Harry Balzonya
  • Football Accuracy Challenge at Hole 8 for $75 gift card + cooler from Heritage Coop + Green Bay Packers’ 2022 Collector Series Football. WINNER: Jeff Chubaty
  • Hole 8 – Men’s Longest Drive – Titleist Golf Bag + 4 travel mugs courtesy Crane Steel + 4 rounds of golf at Souris. WINNER: Scott Hlady
  • Hole 10 Closest to the vintage Bobcat jersey – Swiss Chalet 1/4 Chicken Dinner for a Year. WINNER: Cory Lawson
  • Hole 11 Closest to the Pin – Portable 8″ Karaoke Speaker from Extreme Electronics + Original Joe’s 4 x $25 gift cards. WINNER: Craig Malaschuk
  • Hole 13 Closest to the Pin – $CASH PRIZE$ sponsored by Waves Leisure. WINNER: Brian Barnes
  • Hole 15 – Westman Lumber PLINKO (chance to win 1 of 8 prizes): WINNERS: Paul Bacabanski, John Downie, Dave Stasica, Josh Price, Tanya LaBuick, Earl Roberts, Scott Kozoroski and Gillian Leech.
  • Hole 15 Longest Putt – Supplement King $200 gift card + The Chilli Chutney 4 x $25 gift cards. WINNER: Dave Burman
  • Basketball Shootout between Hole 15 green and Hole 16 tee box for Winnipeg Sea Bears’ game tickets + Radisson Winnipeg Hotel Stay. WINNER: Devin Moore
  • Hole 16 Ladies Longest Drive – 4 bottles of wine, courtesy Century 21 + Brandon Florist $50 gift certificate: WINNER: Mary Thomson
  • Hole 18 Closest to the vintage Bobcat jersey – Portable electric BBQ courtesy Extreme Electronics + The Chilli Chutney 4 x $25 gift cards. WINNER: Tyson Stelter