A field of 90 golfers will compete in the Aspen Grove Senior Men's Open and it's guaranteed there will be a different champion this year.
Two-time defending champ Real Gamache of Quesnel is not among those entered in the two-round event for golfers 50-and-older, today and Sunday at Aspen Grove Golf Course. But the guy he beat last year in a playoff for the title, Brian Kulchiski, will take his swings in this year's tournament.
"Ninety is a pretty decent turnout," said tournament organizer John Reinhart, who will also compete for the title this weekend.
"We were hoping for a few more but everything is down a bit this year and the B.C. Seniors Games are going on this weekend in the Kootenays."
With Gamache out of the mix, Reinhart figures the leaderboard battle could come down to a handful of low handicappers that includes Kulchiski, James Pedersen of Quesnel, Chris Stevens of 108 Mile Ranch, Jim Horswell and Gary Norbraten. Norbraten's family built and operates the Aspen Grove course off Leno Road, south of the Prince George Airport.
"Gary knows the course pretty well, better than me," quipped Reinhart.
Prizes will be awarded for low-gross score, low-net score and top-five flight finishes.
The first tee-off times both days are at 8 a.m.
