Calgary Stampeders hitting the local links

There will a Canadian Football League flair featured at the Taber Golf Club this Saturday.

Two local businesses were the big winners at the recent STARS Charity auction earlier this year to earn the privilege of golfing a round with quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and defensive lineman Charleston Hughes.

“We are always looking to be more involved in the (southern Alberta) community,” said Jonathan Anderson, community relations co-ordinator for the Calgary Stampeders, adding the team has spent 347 hours in various communities since January 2014, including Medicine Hat, Pincher Creek, Taber, and Drumheller in recent weeks and later this month.

As far as the quality of golf local links partners will see out of the dynamic duo of Calgary Stampeders, Anderson was tongue in cheek, adding the two will hold their own.

“Bo Levi is a pretty good golfer, but I do not want to speak for him with what his handicap is. I’d say it’s pretty low,” said Anderson.

“And Charleston Hughes is the CFL’s best defensive player so he can do anything right?”

The round of golf is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. where football fans will get a chance for a meet and greet afterwards at supper to get up close and personal with the Calgary Stampeders organization.

“They will join everybody at dinner afterwards and just sort of do a meet and greet and talk football,” said Anderson. “We are always looking to increase the brand presence in southern Alberta especially and you don’t have to be in Calgary to be a Stamps fan.”

In 2013, Charleston Hughes played 16 games and registered 39 tackles including three tackles for a loss, a league-leading 18 sacks, an interception, three knockdowns and tied for a team-high three forced fumbles.

He recorded six multiple-sack games. He earned CFL Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 1 when he had three QB sacks and four tackles and again in Week 10 for his three-sack game on Labour Day. In Week 18 he won the CFL’s top Defensive Player of the Week for a third time with his three-sack effort against Saskatchewan. Hughes also started in the Western Final and recorded four tackles. He was named a West Division all-star, a CFL all-star and a CFLPA all-star and was the West nominee for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

In 2013, Bo Levi Mitchell dressed for all 18 games, including three starts. He saw significant playing time on July 20 and again on Sept. 2 in relief of Kevin Glenn. He got his first CFL start on July 29 and was named the CFL’s offensive player of the week when he went 29 of 33 for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He got his second start on Sept. 6 in Edmonton and his third start on Sept. 13 vs Hamilton. In total he completed 94 of 135 passes (69.6 per cent) for 1,156 yards and 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has 35 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He was also the holder on field goals.