NORWICH – The Canasawacta Country Club will see 83 pairings spread out over 18 holes for the next four days, playing for a shot at the Member-Guest Championship. In its 60th consecutive year, the event carries a tradition of competitive golf and good times.

Since Sunday, players have started practicing for the tournament as they have played 18 holes as a practice round. The tune-up final session wraps up on Wednesday around 3 p.m. Following the practice round, the putting contest will begin.

The 54 hole, four-ball stroke tournament play will see half of the field pairings start official play Thursday morning with the other half continuing Thursday afternoon to play their first 18 holes of the tournament. On Friday morning, play will continue for another 18 holes. After the first 36 holes have concluded, flights will be determined with the top eight teams of the lowest scores and ties will advance to the Masters Flight. The overall tournament champions will be determined from this flight.

The rest of the field will be evenly broken down into flights with 7-12 teams. Those flights will also have a winner decided and announced at the Awards Dinner on Saturday evening.

The 83 team field feature heavy competition as many past winners are scheduled to tee-off Thursday. However, Tournament Director and Club President Tim Carson said it really is anyone’s tournament.

“The competition level is huge this year,” said Carson. “I can think of at least eight teams that have a shot to win.”

Carson and his partner, Scott Seiler Sr., will be in the running for a three-peat. The duo has been in this spot before, winning in years 2011 and 2012. In 2013, the tournaments said to be youngest champions, Corey Johnson and Eric Walling, snagged the title to end Carson and Seiler’s hopes. The pair finished fourth in the Masters Flight.

“We have such a rare club here at Canasawacta,” said Carson. “We have about 40 different golfers with a single digit handicap, making anyone who steps out on the course tough competition.”

Carson mentioned Brett Smith is one of the hottest golfers in the area right now and believes he is a top contender for the title. Smith will be playing with Thad Fleming. If Smith and Fleming are able to pull-off the win, it will be their first Member-Guest championship.

Others that Carson said are always contenders are the championship pairings of Bob and Mike Branham, Matt Burrell and Craig Dawson, and Lee Skillin and Jim Gorski.

While the Branham’s won the 2004 and 2008 Member-Guest championships, Bob is a 10-time tournament winner. The father-son duo will look to repeat their wins but will have to battle through the strong field on their way to Saturday’s Masters Flight.

Burrell and Dawson, winners in 2014, will be making a push for the crown while Skllin and Gorski have hopes to claim their second Member-Guest championship in nine years.

Bryan Smith knows the feeling of being on top, winning in 2010 with Todd Seiler. This year, Smith will be playing with Brian Loomis, a five-time Member-Guest winner.

Carson stated Ryan Johnson is one of the top three or four players at the club right now. He and Cory Seiler, his partner, will be vying for their first championship.

Also attempting to win their first Member-Guest title will be Justin Bennett and Scott Seiler Jr. and the Brunick brothers, Nick and Paul.

While there are players dealing with injuries and illnesses, the field is full of competitors and will battle through for their shot to hold the bragging rights for a year.

“There is a lot of history at this tournament,” said Carson. “Guys come from all over the country to play, using their vacation time to be here. It serves as a reunion for some, seeing family and friends while it’s like Christmas for adults for all.”

The end of each day of play, the Canasawacta Country Club has different events planned. Wednesday is reserved for the putting contest at the end of the practice rounds. Thursday is the stag dinner while Friday will feature Live Music by the Bruce Beadle Band, sponsored by Pro-Tel and Eric Burrell.

Throughout the three days of golf, various contests will be at different holes on the course. Hole-in-one, closest to the pin, closest to the line and the longest drive will be handed out. Prizes awarded to the winners are sponsored by McLaughlin’s Department Store, Mid York Press, Mirabito-Gresham Insurance and Bonds Agency, LLC., and Nina’s Restaurant.

Below are Thursday and Friday’s pairings:

Thursday a.m.

1A: Alger, Joe and Krowiak, CJ; Stratton, Zach and Stratton, Eric

1B: Matott, Mark and Lathrop, Rich; Yerton, Lance and Bennett, Steve

2: Alger, Jordan and Krowiak, Rob; Bennett, Josh and Morley, Matt

3: Bennett, Gerry and Brown, Frank; McIntyre, Jim and Morse, Mike

4: Binelli, Greg and Cola, Jeff; Swertfager, John and Shaeen, Lou

5A: DeMellier, Mark and DeMellier, Rob; Gelsomin, George and Coon, Ken

5B: Skillin, Hal and Berry, Bob; Skillin, Lee and Gorski, Jim

6: Brunick, Nick and Brunick, Paul; Ryan, Pat and Ryan, Jason

7: Clarkson, Roger and Tacinelli, Dan; Tenney, Bob and Lawrence, Donny

8A: Maynard, Chris and Cleveland, Craig; Testani, Sal and Halaquist, Earl

8B: Hughes, Stu and Hughes, Derek; Kelly, Chuck and Kelly, Jake

9: Myers, Harry and Dolbin, Josh; Ryan, Matt and Mayhew, Matt

10: Branham, Bob and Branham, Mike; Curley, Phil and King, John

11A: Adsit, Bob and Cappadonia, Dave; Johnson, Jeff and Mirabito, Denny

11B: Johnson, Ryan and Seiler, Cory; Maynard, Brenon and Maynard, Bryant

12: Flanagan, Mike and Stewart, Ken; Mitchell, John and Flanagan, Tom

13: Hannan, Aiden and Stafford, John; Hannan, Brendan and Burton, Brian

14: Hayes, Mike and Boyer, Bryan; Smith, Brett and Fleming, Thad

15A: Martin, David and Dixon, Tom; Martin, Robert and Thompson, Shane

15B: Wolford, Corey and Wolford, Andy; Wysor, Jim and Wysor, Jim Jr.

16: Carson, Danny and Runyon, Ricky; Miller, Brent and Drew, Chris

17: Carson, Tim and Seiler, Scott; Carson, David and Clark, Timmy

18: deCordova, Trip and Nugent, Kevin; Baldwin, Leigh and Islemoe, Kenny

Thursday p.m.

1A: Burrell, Matt and Dawson, Craig; Bennett, Justin and Seiler, Scotty

1B: Collins, Adam and Wightman, Charlie; Eaton, Paul and Benjamin, Ken

2: McLaughlin, Mark and Jackson, BJ; Zieno, John and O’Brien, Dennis

3: Beadle, Bruce and Shepler, Don; Ryan, Tom and Dicks, Gregg

4: Bowden, Ron and Bowden, Wayne; Haskins, Steve and Stevens, Daryl

5A: Diorio, Ted and Derecola, Joe; Kelly, Ryan and Thomas, Greg

5B: Burrell, Eric and Roswick, Rick; DiFrancesco, John and Mullenax, Joe

6: Cevasco, Denny and Parker, Bryant; Walsh, Kevin and Chrystie, Mike