Originally Published Oct. 1st, 2008
The Franklin Press
By Andy Scheidler
Joe Culpepper and many other golfers who have played in the "Dog Fight" remember Arnfinn Sveen as an avid golfer. If it was a cold day and the players were hesitant to play, Arfinn would tell everyone to quit being sissies and play some Viking golf.
Of course the Viking sounded with like "Wiking," as Sveen’s Norway accent rang through.
Sveen passed away in 2005, but his spirit and love of golf are remembered each year.
Culpepper started the Viking Tournament in 2006 in memory of Sveen.
"He was a local businessman, a very charitable guy. He did a lot of community work and was a super avid golfer," Culpepper said.
"This tournament a tribute to Arnfinn and his life and spirit. Golf embodied everything he believed in."
This third annual tournament will be held Oct. 11-12 at Mill Creek Country Club. It was originally scheduled to be played at The Ridges in Hayesville like the previous two years, but financial issues arose that forced the venue change.
Mill Creek Country Club was schedule to be the host in 2009, and will now have the opportunity to host it a year earlier than expected.
"We’re proud to have it," said Rob Bell, one of the club’s three owners along with Kevin Bell and Lewis Penland. "It’s home where it belongs because of him. We’re looking forward to good long-term relationship and hope to put on a good show for them."
The entry fee has been lowered from $400 per two-man team to $300. However, the cash prizes for each flight will remain the same. A total cash payout will total more than $7,000, with the winning team in each flight receiving $800. Second in each flight will receive $400, while third receives $200.
The format is two-person best ball, where both players play their own ball and record the lowest score on each hole.
Teams will be flighted into four-six flights after the first round. The field will be limited to the first 50 teams, and it has been full the previous two years.
Numerous prizes will be handed out, including closest to the pin, longest drive and a putting contest. A car will be given away for a hole in one on hole No. 6 on Saturday.
Money raised from the tournament helps support local charities and scholarships. About $11,000 has been generated in the previous two tournaments. The Arnfinn Sveen Memorial Scholarship Fund was created last year, as it provides scholarships to high school seniors in Western North Carolina.
The entry deadline is Saturday, Oct. 4th, 2008. For more information or to obtain and entry fee, visit vikingtournament.com. You can also contact Joe Culpepper (524-6842) or Steve Leach (349-9220) for more details.
