White Rock resident, former BC Lion wins $10K hole in one at alumni tourney

White Rock resident, former BC Lion wins $10K hole in one at alumni tourney

Published 4:15 pm Thursday, July 23, 2026

A former BC Lions player and White Rock resident scored big when he shot a hole in one during the Simon Fraser University Football Rick Klassen Memorial Golf Tournament.

Jamie Buis, an offensive guard with the CFL’s BC Lions from 1983-1989, was golfing in the alumni tournament last Thursday (July 16) in Pitt Meadows when he carded the ultimate prize: a hole in one worth $10,000.

“On hole seven, I hit the ball right straight at the flag — it’s 170 yards — and it bounced a few times and rolled in,” Buis said Thursday (July 23).

The former football player, who was also a firefighter, used his five iron on the par 3 hole and wasn’t sure if it was a hole in one right away, but the witness on hole seven confirmed it, as did his ball, which he found in the cup.

It’s actually Buis’ second hole in one — he got his first at Greenacres Golf Course in Richmond years ago, he recalled. But it wasn’t in a tournament and there wasn’t a $10,000 prize.

Joe Bell was in the foursome playing with Buis at the tournament, which is a memorial for another former BC Lion, Rick Klassen.

“The four of us in the foursome all played at Simon Fraser,” Bell explained, adding that Buis and the entire foursome were excited about the lucrative hole in one — especially since Buis is a sharer.

Buis recalled that he asked one of the tournament’s organizers, Frank Roberto, what kind of prizes were involved in the memorial contest.

“He goes, ‘Oh there’s a couple holes worth $10,000 on them … par threes,’ and I said, ‘Well if anybody wins it we’ve got to split it right?” Buis said.

“It’s funny, because I got to the next hole and I said, ‘You know, I changed my mind about sharing it,’ and then they just kind of looked at me … I said, ‘Just kidding!’” he shared with a chuckle.

Bell said it was the first time that the hole-in-one prize has been won in about 40 years of having the tournament.

“It was pretty nice of him (to share),” Bell said.