Kelowna Golf and Country Club hosting 61st annual Ogopogo this weekend

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• Martin wins Ogopogo golf title
• Kelowna Golf and Country Club ready for the season
• Ogopogo Swim Club dominates at Penticton meet
• Pitts takes Kelowna Golf and Country Club men's open
• Rockets host annual alumni weekend
• Kelowna hosts its annual Sweetheart Ringette tournament

The 61st annual Ogopogo Invitational Golf Tournament is taking place this week, July 12 to 14 at the Kelowna Golf and Country Club as golfers from all over the province and western Canada are taking part in one of the longest running tournaments in the valley.

Matt Palahniuk is the defending champion after his win in 2011.

Here's a look back at the winners from the previous 10 years starting with 2010.

Norm Bradley

Daniel Brown

Jeff Dagg

Doug Roxburgh

Rob Anderson

Kent Eger

Zac Hildenbrand

Lindsay Bernakevitch

Chris Baryla

Kevin Axford

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The GolfBC Group, which owns nine B.C. golf courses including the Okanagan Golf Club's Bear and Quail courses as well as Gallagher's Canyon, has introduced Quik Tees, a new program aimed at growing the game of golf.

Painted a vibrant orange colour and placed approximately 150-200 yards from the green, Quik Tees are tee boxes that shorten the courses to approximately 3,000 yards, while maintaining the established par of each hole.

The new tees will offer an opportunity for golfers of all abilities to play a championship golf course, making golf more accessible and fun and are geared towards:

•Junior or senior golfers looking for a shorter layout

•Beginner golfers learning the game

•Families looking to enjoy the game together

•Avid golfers looking for a different challenge

•Golfers wanting to practice their short game

•Golfers looking to play a quick twilight round

"Getting started in golf can unfortunately be intimidating and difficult for new or young players. GolfBC's new Quik Tees relieves some of that pressure by making the holes a lot shorter, and allowing for an easier, more private tee shot from much closer to the hole,” said GolfBC spokesperson Ken Langdon. “At GolfBC one of our highest priorities is to grow the game, and we think the Quik Tees will help achieve that goal," he added.

GolfBC courses set up with “Quik Tees” include the OGC's Bear and Quail courses along with Gallagher’s Canyon and The Pinnacle in Kelowna. Nicklaus North in Whistler; Mayfair Lakes in Richmond, Furry Creek near Lion's Bay, Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill and Olympic View in Victoria also offer the new layout.

In addition to its nine BC courses, GolfBC also owns three in Maui, Hawaii: the Gold, Emerald and Old Blue courses at Wailea Golf Resort.

•••

A record 96 players took on the Okanagan Golf Club's Bear course Monday night as the Molson Tour heads down the stretch drive towards its match play playoff rounds.

With just two weeks left in the regular season, points are more important than ever with the top 32 players qualifying for the A side playoffs. On Monday, the Bear course surrendered some great shots.

Closest to the pin winners were Greg Patchell, Gary Yates, Russ Acton and Jason Senger while Kelly Quist bombed the long drive on the par 4 10th.

With just two qualifying rounds left to play before the playoffs, here is the top 10.

Cal Warren

Dave McMahon

Jim Malazdrewicz

Dennis Young

Gary Higgs

Mike Fisher

Mike Bird

Jason Senger

Craig Foster

Scotty Campo

The Molson Tour is sponsored by Molsons Shayn Scott, Power 104, Torino Mens Wear, Invidia Hair Salon, Montana’s Cookhouse, The Keg, Train Station Pub, Fix Auto, the Okanagan Golf Club, Spring Fuel Distributors/Petro Canada, REMAX and Clay Stothers.

•••

A couple of members at Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club fired their first ever hole in ones recently.

On June 7, Jung-Sup Ham used a seven-wood on the 166 yard 12th hole to earn an ace that was witnessed by Chang-Hwan Lee.

Then on June 22, Dave Andrews used a sand wedge from 120 yards on the eighth hole to put it right in the cup.

His ace was witnessed by Kathy Andrew, Walter Trudeau and Jenine Trudeau.

•••

If you have an item for the golf digest, e-mail kparnell@kelownacapnews.com