Former Fire Chief 'on fire' at Knights Tournament

July 01, 2009 05:36 pm

— When Dave Allstaedt left for the Knights of Columbus International Golf Tournament (June 18-19), he wasn’t thinking of winning this year. Things just weren’t going great this year. His wife lost her mother in March, he lost his dad in May and his golf game was in the sewer. He hadn’t attended the international tournament in the last three years, but it was in Michigan this year, and it was a perfect opportunity to see family and friends. The two-day tournament was held at the Raisin River Golf Course in Monroe, MI, where Allstaedt made his first hole-in-one on Aug. 4, 1993.
This year, nearly 180 golfers came from all over the country, from California to Pennsylvania. The second day, Allstaedt had to play against a “priest,” who was leading him by a stroke and several others were in striking distance. While playing with the priest, Allstaedt said, "I never said so many 'gosh-darn-its' and 'fiddle-sticks' in my life, but things just worked out." The priest was a young guy with a great game, who could hit the ball 300 yards off the tee, but he had one bad hole. Allstaedt jumped at the opportunity, winning the tournament by two strokes.
It had been 10 years since Allstaedt won the Knights of Columbus International Golf Tournament and, ironically, it was in 1999 when the Crossville Knights of Columbus hosted it here in Cumberland County. He won it at Bear Trace, where he is now employed. Funny how things work out.