Last year’s custom golf cart included a sound system and a few other extras which enticed Vernon’s Eric Godard, then of the Calgary Flames, to submit the winning auction bid.

This year, Vernon’s Jorum Schramm has toned down the golf jet his company — Leverage Sports & Entertainment – has donated for the 20th annual Kal Tire Brent Gilchrist Invitational for B.C. Children’s Hospital Saturday at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club.

“We spent $500 on the engine so it’s really fast off the line,” said Schramm, whose company put up a cart for their own charity tournament last year at Westwood Plateau Golf Club in Coquitlam.

The cart comes with mag wheels and a gorgeous paint job, and is worth close to $6,000. It will be auctioned off Saturday night at Spall.

“We’ve got two or three trips to Mexico, all 100 per cent donated,” said Gilchrist, who has been hitting the ball decent at Predator Ridge this summer.

The tournament, which gave 30 per cent of its proceeds to the NONA Tree House project last year, has been an overwhelming success.

Gilchrist and friends will likely raise another $80,000 this year, bringing the grand total close to $1 million.

Gilchrist, who won a Stanley Cup ring with the Red Wings, and is blessed with two healthy sons, took over as chairman from Tom Gordon, who replaced former Vernon sportscaster Craig Jeffers.

These men, and the stellar supporting cast, make the event a winner each year. Times are tough, but the hole sponsors are full and the auction items are aplenty, again showing how generous and caring this community can be.

Gillie made the point of meeting Vernon’s Andrew Ebbett (Anaheim Ducks) for lunch one day, and inviting the former Salmon Arm SilverBack sniper to play in the Texas Scramble.

Shea Weber of Sicamous (Nashville Predators) is scheduled to tee it up in his first Gilchrist tourney, as are Colorado Avalanche teammates Scott Hannan and Brett McLean, both Kelowna Rocket alumni.

Tee off Saturday is a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The auction is open to the public.

Nyjer Morgan, who pretty much calls Vernon his off-season home with loads of friends here, is now a Washington National.

The speedy left fielder, a clubhouse and fan favorite, along with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett were dealt to Washington on Tuesday afternoon in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and righty Joel Hanrahan.

According to the Pirates’ web site, trade discussions between the Nationals and Pirates have been ongoing for a while now, as Washington has been actively pursuing Morgan as a center fielder and leadoff hitter.

Morgan moved to Washington after establishing himself as an everyday player with Pittsburgh this season. He solidified himself as the team’s starting left fielder with a torrid start to the season.

Though he has cooled off a bit since, Morgan left having hit .277 with 39 runs scored, 18 stolen bases and 27 RBIs this year.

“Basically being a 33rd rounder, I’m not even supposed to be here,” Morgan said on the Bucs’ web site. “In my eyes, to be able to open up somebody’s eyes and knowing that they want me to be their guy is a beautiful thing. It’s unfortunate that I have to leave the black and gold. I loved being here.

“I just thank you very much Pittsburgh for just embracing me,” he continued. “I’ve built a lot of relationships with guys here. It’s the city of champions, and I definitely wanted to be a part of it.”

The trade came just two weeks after Morgan, who played some Junior A and B hockey in Vernon and Enderby, caught a ceremonial first pitch from Bill Guerin of the Stanley Cup champion Penguins.

Kal Lakers’ grad Olivia Vardabasso has won the B.C. School Sports Dave Gifford Memorial Scholarship as top female student-athlete.

The 6-foot forward, who will play CIS hoops for the Fraser Valley Cascades in Abbotsford next season, helped the Kal basketball and volleyball teams win provincial titles this season, earning all-star selections.

Vardabasso made the Principal’s List with straight A’s in Grades 11 and 12, while serving as a senior buddy and a peer tutor for special needs students. She also found time to be a candy striper.

The $1,500 B.C. School Sports scholarship is the largest the group hands out. There were 100 nominations.

Said Cascades’ coach Al Tuchscherer of Vardabasso:

“You can’t underestimate what someone who expects to win all the time brings to the table. Olivia already embraces many of the things we value in our program – she is an outstanding student with ambitious goals in that area and she understands her responsibilities in serving her community and others.”

Fulton grad James Green made his CFL debut in the Toronto Argos’ win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Thursday.

Green wore No. 43 and played special teams, assisting on four tackles. After an all-star university career with the Calgary Dinos, the 5-foot-11 Green has bulked up to 217 pounds. He was chosen 18th overall in the Canadian Draft.