Pool tourney, silent auction this weekend

This weekend pool players from around Southwest Montana will be making their way to Whitehall.

The 15th annual Cori Bishop, Dave McLaughlin, Steve Dyson Memorial Pool Tournament is slated to take place Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22.

The Open Scotch Doubles tournament will take place at the Mint Bar, Legends, Two-Bit and Whitehall Community Center.

Dwayne McClanahan of the Whitehall Pool League said the tournament is a memorial for three league members who passed away, and this year will include a silent auction to benefit two league players battling cancer. He said the auction would raise money for Don Hartford and Deanna Wall.

“It’s like a family,” McClanahan said about the league. “Most of us have been playing together for a long time.”

The silent auction will take place Saturday, January 21 at 8 p.m., and items will be displayed at the Mint Bar and Community Center. The last call to bid will be 7:59 p.m.

McClanahan said so far the auction items include a handmade table, two rifle scopes, an outdoor fire pit, fishing equipment, sportsmen basket, beauty supply basket, booze basket, belt buckle, a framed Native American picture, wine bottle and holder, an etched moose pic, darts and a bb gun.

“It’s still coming in,” he said.

Last year a total of 50 teams played at the tournament with a payout of $1,200.

McClanahan said the tournament brings in players who stay at the local motel, and spend money at places like the Corner Store, as well as bars and restaurants.

He is anticipating more teams for this year’s event and has the hopes of reaching 64.

The signup for the tournament will take place January 21 at 9 a.m. in the Community Centerand play will begin at 10 a.m.