By Iesha Toft
S-N Contributor
Corona Royale royally delivers
Annual event sees 'excellent' turnout
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IESHA TOFT/SENTINEL-NEWS
Allen Baumgard, of Spirit Lake, pitches in the tournament, stating that his first horseshoe experience was a fun one.
Royal Fun Days may have been postponed to 2021, but the 7th Annual Royal Lions Club Horseshoe Tournament lived on last Sunday at Memorial Park in Royal.
Lions Grove's officially-sanctioned horseshoe pits were packed with nearly 30 tournament participants and many spectators for the six-hour tournament held by Royal Lions Club. Josh Toft, who organized the event, said the fundraising event proved successful for the Lions Club. More than 50 commemorative Corona Royale T-shirts were sold and participation was "excellent."
"Everyone had a great time. We look forward to this tournament every year and are just glad that this year's could take place," Toft said. "We typically have a large fundraiser in April with our annual Stag Night. Unfortunately, COVID-19 put a halt to those plans and our club funding for community projects and other giving opportunities was stifled by that fundraiser's cancellation. The goal this weekend was to have fun and keep our 'giving dollars' intact."
The tournament consisted of three games with 40 pitches thrown per game, then was followed by three consecutive games each with 30 shoes thrown. Top scorers were moved into three divisions with the Top 3 of each division winning placement prizes.
Division 1: First place, Marv Dirks, of Fonda, weekend getaway to Wild Rose Casino and Resort in Emmetsburg; second place, Shawn Redding, of Spencer, large rolling cooler; third place, Seth McCarty, of Hartley, propane tank fill-up.
Divison 2: First place, Lonnie Frerichs, of Royal, weekend getaway to Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort in Larchwood; second place, Mark Birchird, of Fostoria, large portable cooler; third place, Craig Manning, of Royal, propane tank fill-up.
Division 3: First place, Ben Pullen of Spencer, weekend Getaway in Scharnberg Park cabin near Everly; second place, Lance Lundbeck, of Royal, portable cooler; third place, Lisa Small, of Greenville, propane tank fill-up.
Prizes were donated by Crescent Electric, of Spencer, Wild Rose Casino and Resort, of Emmetsburg, Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort, of Larchwood, and Cooperative Energy, of Spencer. Participants enjoyed a free-will donation lunch at the park followed by a hamburger supper at Haggy's.