BCGA selects volunteer to attend 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies and sends amputee golfer to play in Japan

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Oct. 28, 2009 - Earlier this year, the British Columbia Golf Association (BCGA) entered the "Sharing Our Stories" competition offered by 2010 Legacies Now.

We are pleased to announce that our inspiring story about the success of our junior girls in the 2008 championship season was selected from all of the entries to win the "Sharing Our Stories" prize. The prize included two tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies and $2,500 for one of our programs.

The BCGA invited clubs from all corners of the province to nominate an individual from their club who contributes to the overall success of the club in a volunteer capacity.

"We were overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of nominees we received, and are proud of the volunteer work being done throughout the province to support the game of golf," says Kris Jonasson, executive director of the BCGA.

Last week at the BC Golf Hall of Fame inductee dinner, Morris Pittendreigh of the Sunshore Golf Course Society in Chase, B.C. was randomly selected to receive the two tickets to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies.

"This is a once in a lifetime chance," says Pittendreigh. "My wife and I are never imagined we would be watching the opening ceremonies live."

Pittendreigh, 74, has been a volunteer at Sunshore Golf Course for more than 25 years and plays to a handicap of 15.

"If there is grass to be cut or trees to be pruned, I will take care of it," says Pittendreigh. "I'm up for anything and everything if it helps out."

The $2500 prize money will go to help amputee golfer, Johannes Grames to compete at the All Japan Physically Challenged Golf Championship early next month in Tsu, Japan at the Tsu Golf & Country Club.

Johannes Grames is an above knee amputee golfer currently living in Vancouver and plays to a single digit handicap. He is a board member at large of the B.C. Amputee Golf Association, a member of the Canadian Amputee Golf Association, the B.C. Amputee Sports Association and the B.C. Golf Association.

Johannes is the 2009 B.C. Amputee Open champion, the 2009 Gold Medal winner at the B.C Disability Games Golf Tournament and finished second in the above knee division at the 2009 Canadian Amputee Open.

The BC Golf Association wishes Johannes the best of luck and good play.