Ladies ‘Galva Day’ occasion celebrated 50 years of {golfing} enjoyable

Three many years after the boys’s annual Galva Day occasion started, 5 native girls determined to have a play day of their very own.

The committee consisted of chairperson Kate Cromien, together with Irene Eldridge, Nancy L. Lord, Judy M. Anderson and Mari Lou Holding. It was held at Lake Calhoun Golf Course on August 20, 1976.

Forty golfers took half within the day’s contest, with over sixty attending the awards banquet that adopted. The banquet was embellished with crimson, white and blue, in step with the nation’s Bicentennial theme.

Peg Jones received the trophy for low gross, with Gail Shields taking dwelling honors for low web.
Local companies donated the trophies, with Lord Chevrolet offering a golf ball for every entrant.

In current years, the occasion moved to Baker Park in Kewanee, with 88 golfers collaborating this 12 months. The “Golden Girls” was chosen because the 2025 theme, with prizes for costumes awarded on the banquet that adopted at Allenia Space in downtown Galva.

Preferred ball was performed, with high honors going to Katy Mertz and Amber Sherbyn, for a rating of 38, and the foursome of Haley Simoneaux, Shelly Hurd, Missy Aman and Jessica Edgell for a rating of 37.

The first-place costume award went to the staff of Megan Rose, Alex Bradshaw, and Mackenzie Newby, with the Carly Allen, Taylor Cratty, Lexy Rux and Cortnie Ackerman foursome coming in at an in depth second. Sherbyn and Mertz additionally acquired honorable point out for his or her costumes.

Cromien, the one surviving member of the unique committee, was given a standing ovation for her efforts in beginning the annual Ladies Day, which continues annually on the primary Friday in August.

“Galva Ladies Day would not be what it is if not for Kate,” stated committee chair Taylor Williams. “We are all here because of her.”

Daughter Sheila Cromien, herself a golfer, added that the elder Cromien has performed in 48 of all 50 tournaments.

“It took a broken hip to take her off the golf course for the last two years,” she stated.

At 96, she remains to be energetic in her church and neighborhood, with 5 youngsters, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren, most of whom golf. Three grandchildren acquired full-ride school scholarships by the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship program.

“My house is really full of golf clubs when they all come at once,” she stated with an enormous smile.

Kate admits that whereas she by no means received a trophy, she performed numerous golf over time together with her favourite #5 wooden.

“I miss playing with my husband Bernie, [who died in 2017,] and all the fun of Ladies Day, but I have great memories of the game,” stated Kate.