SEELEY LAKE – What better way to practice social distancing while supporting a great cause than to spend Sept. 19 on the Double Arrow Golf Course for the Mike Haley Memorial Golf Tournament. Mike’s son Jacob organized the tournament to honor his father and all proceeds will support Seeley-Swan Blackhawks Athletics. The deadline to register is Sept. 14.
Jacob was an athlete throughout his career at Seeley-Swan High School. He played football, basketball, track and golf. He was part of the SSHS Golf Team that won the State C Golf Championship in 2015 and took second at the State Championship his senior year in 2016. Jacob continues to be an avid golfer and has played in memorial tournaments. He decided to organize a tournament to remember his dad. Mike was killed in a vehicle accident May 5, 2019.
“It’s been around a year since my dad passed so I just wanted to honor him in some way and have everyone be able to come out and get together in a safe manner,” said Jacob. “Golf is about the best thing you can with the social distancing and Double Arrow is a great course.”
Jacob worked with Double Arrow Golf Pro Nathan Miller to organize the four-person scramble tournament. Double Arrow Golf Course will be running the tournament that will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The top three teams will receive free rounds of golf to area golf courses. The only cash prize will be the deuce pot that teams can participate in for $20/team.
In keeping with his dad’s personality, Jacob has added some fun hole games as well as other hole prizes. Several local and Missoula businesses have sponsored the holes and donated prizes.
All of the proceeds from the event will support the Seeley-Swan Blackhawk Athletics, a group that was a natural choice to support. Jacob was a part of Blackhawks athletics and his brother Ben is now a sophomore at SSHS and participates in athletics as well. Jacob said his dad was a big fan of coming to the games and cheering for everyone. In addition to their family connection to SSHS athletics, due to COVID restrictions, the teams don’t have the financial support this year with limited spectators at the games and no concessions.
“Just the whole accident and how it all went down is never in a million years what I would want to have through the community,” said Jacob. “This isn’t meant to forget about that but to put it on the back burner and have my dad’s name be definitely more of a light.”
Jacob appreciates all the support from his friends, family, his dad’s friends that want to come play as well as the local and Missoula businesses that have sponsored holes and donated prizes. Depending how it goes and with Double Arrow’s support, he hopes to make this an annual event.
“It’s exceeded my expectations already,” said Jacob. “To all get together and golf and do it under my dad’s name is pretty cool.”
The entry fee is $240/team with carts included. To register, donate or sponsor the event contact Jacob, 406-210-4160. The Mike Haley Memorial Golf Tournament registration form is also posted on the Seeley-Swan Blackhawks Football Facebook page. Registration ends Sept. 14.
“Come out and help celebrate the life of one of our biggest fans and honorable member of our community,” posted SSHS Football Coach Jared Crum on the Seeley-Swan Blackhawks Football Facebook page. “All proceeds go to a great cause.”
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