Golf tournament honors Libby local

During the past 11 years an outing started by a casual conversation at a funeral has turned into a community event drawing people from around the region to Libby to play a round of golf.

The Kambel Scrambel is an annual golf tournament at the Cabinet View Golf Club, held in honor of Greg “Peach” Kambel. It started when a small group of Kambel’s family and friends decided, at his funeral, to hold a little golf tournament in his memory. This year nearly 200 golfers will take to the links to shoot a round of golf and raise scholarship money for local students.

“It brings family and friends and a community together in memory of an amazing man who will always hold a special place in the hearts of many people,” said Kambel’s widow and event organizer, Deb Kambel.

Kambel said players come from all over the area to participate in the tournament. There are golfers from Idaho, California, Washington State, Oregon and Iowa in this year’s Kambel Scrambel.

The official tournament begins Saturday morning, June 27, with a toast to Kambel’s memory. After a toast to Kambel’s memory, sponsored by Maker’s Mark, 36 teams of up to five players each will start in a shotgun-style format. Unlike most tournaments, two teams will play each hole together, so up to 10 players will be on each hole simultaneously. Usually only up to four players shoot on the same hole at any given time.

“It’s a bit different,” Kambel said. “Teams will be on the holes at the same time, interacting with each other. It’s fun.”

The event unofficially begins Friday evening with the derby. Teams of two players each will take the course and rotate shots until they sink the ball. All of the teams will play the holes together, with the highest scoring teams being eliminated after each hole until a winner is determined. The entry fees will pay prize money for the first, second and third place teams at the derby.

The winning team will receive a large wooden plaque as a trophy, as well as bragging rights at the golf club. Door prizes are given to all participants in the event. The prizes are paid for by entry fees as well as with the assistance of sponsors.

The event also features a raffle, as well as both live and silent auctions. All of the money raised from these events goes into a scholarship fund for local students. In its 11 years of existence, the Kambel Scrambel has raised more than $26,000 for local students, Kambel said.

“It’s a fun event,” Kambel said. “Peach’s friends, family and a whole community get together and play golf in his memory.”