Breite family wins set of golf clubs after winning golden golf ball contest

~ The person who actually found the ball didn't know it was part of a contest.

The winners of the Golden Golf Ball contest from Arena Park Golf say the prize is great but the thrill was in the chase.

"It was fun. We'd do another one if they had one. It was just something nice for us to do as a family," said Chris Breite of Thomas Drive.

She and her husband, the Rev. Doug Breite, daughter Abby, 9, and son Sam, 12, along with family friend Leah Kourtmeyer spent five hours searching high and low for the hidden ball.

"We went to Dennis Scivally Park, Juden Creek Park, Cape Rock Park, a little fountain park across from the water treatment plant. We spent a lot of time searching," Chris Breite said.

Clues to the ball's location were released every few days in the Southeast Missourian. They began cryptically -- "West of the Mississippi and east of I-55, trees and paths surround where the golf ball lies" -- and progressed to be more specific by telling hunters to go to Kiwanis Park and look for seven trees in a row. The person who found the golf ball was promised a free set of fitted golf clubs and a new golf bag.

But when the Breites and others arrived at the described location at 9 a.m. last Wednesday, they discovered that the golf ball was missing. Had someone beaten them to it? Was another treasure hunter practicing his golf swing somewhere? Not quite.

"Actually, we know who found it. He picked it up by accident," Chris Breite said. "I don't think he wants his name mentioned, but he walks his dog through Kiwanis Park and picks up golf balls all the time. They were there, the dog sniffed it out and he just put it in his pocket. He didn't know it was part of a contest or anything."

Chris said the man in question hadn't heard about the contest until her husband, who is a minister at Trinity Lutheran Church, mentioned it in his Sunday sermon. The man then realized his mistake.

Since none of the contestants found the golf ball a drawing was held between the 10 finalists who correctly identified the tree where it had been hidden. The Breites name came up.

The family says they're not sure yet who will get the prize, but the leading contender is Doug.

"I think he'll get the clubs," Chris Breite said. "He doesn't usually golf much because he doesn't have the time."

She added that maybe the new set of clubs will inspire him to find some time to hit the links.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245