Holland PTO Charity Poker Tournament

Final round at the PTO charity poker tournament Last night, Saturday April 4, 2009, the Holland PTO held a “no-limit hold‘em”(FN1) poker tournament to benefit the Holland School Children Bornendale Charity.

More than 30 people showed up at the Heritage Country Club in Charlton to support the event, and around 25 of those paid the $75.00 entry fee to take part in the tournament. One of the players was former principal of the Holland elementary school Theodore Friend who is now the associate superintendent. He was the only town official attending the event. The Lake Shore Poker team that plays at Gene‘s house was well represented as was the Lakeridge Drive Saturday Night Poker Group. The Lakeridge Drive team was represented by Chad Brigham, James and Mike LaMountain, all of whom played a good hand. The trio advanced and found themselves at the final table with the former principal who was nicknamed “Teach” for the event and five other players who made the final table of nine. The tournament lasted approx 3 hours.

Half of the proceeds went to prizes for the top four players while the other half went to the school children.

James LaMountain member of the Lakridge Drive Poker Team won the tournament, 2nd place went to a mystery man who signed up under the name “Chicken Scratch,” 3rd place went to Tom MacNeil, 4th place to Kevin Cleveland, 5th to Chad Brigham, 6th to “Teach” (Theodore Friend), 7th to Hoyt Corkins, 8th to Mike LaMountain, and 9th place to an anonymous donor. The two winners, Chicken Scratch on the left and James LaMountain on the right

James LaMountain donated his first prize to the Holland School Children Bornendale Charity. When asked why he didn‘t take the prize money LaMountain stated: "Why would I? I came here to play poker for charity not personal gain. I had a lot of fun.” Congratulations Jimmy, well done!

The organizers Peter and Michelle did a wonderful job although their disappointment at the low turnout was evident. Anyone wishing to host an event for Charity can call Peter or Michelle with P & M Charity Fundraising at (508) 461 9769. Tell them 01521.com sent you.

FN 1: The “no-limit hold‘;em” is also called “Texas hold 'em” and is the most popular poker game on-line and in the casinos and poker card rooms across North America and Europe. Hold'em is a community card game where each player may use any combination of the five community cards and the player's own two hole cards make a poker hand, in contrast to poker variants or draw here each player holds a separate individual hand.

Peter Frei