Allan Hancock College’s Fifth ‘Final Fore’ Golf Tournament At Santa Maria Country Club
Jarrod Zinn
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The athletic department at Allan Hancock College hosted the fifth “Final Fore” golf tournament at the Santa Maria Country Club.
This yearly fundraiser benefits more than 300 Hancock College athletes.
This year’s title sponsor is Pismo Beach’s highly rated charter bus company American Star Tours.
Teams of four tee off promptly at noon for a rapid version of scramble-style gameplay, each team sponsored by community business partners.
“It’s a little breezy, but it’s still a beautiful day,” says Jason Buchanan, insurance advisor for Hub International of Santa Maria. “You know, typical Santa Maria day. You know, 70 degrees and a little windy, but no complaints. You know, it’s Monday and we’re playing golf.”
Pacing is kept by using a “best ball” scoring system, where every player’s next shot starts where the longest ball landed from the previous round.
“The golfers are all of our community partners,” says Kim Ensing, Allan Hancock College’s Athletic Director. “So Arrow Plumbing, they have sponsored our team every year since its inception. We have friends from Taft College who are here golfing, a lot of local sponsors, Toyota, Kia. And it’s going to be—I’m going to be remiss because I’m going to forget somebody.”
After the tournament, participants gather here at the Country Club for a viewing party of the NCAA National Championship “Final Four” basketball game.
“We always host this tournament in conjunction with the men’s basketball division one championship game,” says Ensing. “Always.”
Opportunities abound during gameplay to be entered in a raffle with a variety of prizes, one of which is a fan experience package to next year’s Final Four basketball championship.
“It’s always good, you run into everybody you know,” says Buchanan. “You know, it’s Santa Maria. I am a former Bulldog athlete myself. So I’ve seen a couple of, you know, my former teammates out here as well. And just everybody behind the same cause is always good to see.”
Allan Hancock College’s president Kevin Walthers stayed at hole 13 for one of the tournament’s featured game-day packages, “Beat The President.”
Organizers say the yearly event is a growing tradition bringing the community together for a “hole-in-one” experience that benefits local college athletes.
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