Boston, MA -- The golfers were all smiles as they drove their carts out single file for the shotgun start at the 6th Annual Boston Bruins Golf Tournament at The International in Bolton on Tuesday afternoon -- a perfect way to tee off the 2009-10 season.

“[It’s a] great day for it and great company,” said Michael Ryder. “The guys, and girls actually, are good and it’s just all about having a good time and it’s for a good cause.”

Ryder said he was having a pretty good golf day overall, but added, “[I’m] hitting it pretty good, but I can’t put. I don’t know what’s going on with that.”

Meanwhile, Shawn Thornton admitted to having trouble in the tee box.

“My drives have been all over the place,” said Thornton. “I got a new driver today and I’m trying it out.”

As for his drive aiming at the designated “hole in one,” he said, “I was about 50 yards left. It wasn’t very good for me.”

As per usual, Marc Savard -- a scratch golfer -- was having a good day.

“I’m a one handicap,” said Savard. “And I’m playing pretty good, had a couple birdies and… I’m having a great time.”

Meanwhile, newly acquired Steve Begin helped his team to a first place victory on the Pines Course. His team included John Greene, Peter Greene, Jack Corbet and Jamie Walsh. Shawn Thornton’s team, consisting of Joe Lombardo, Jamie Andrea, Bob Roy and Steve Kelly, placed second.

Chuck Kobasew’s team, including Dave Turk, Tim Kelleher, Paul Guilmartin and Derek Wood, placed third.

Ken Casey, bass guitarist and vocalist for the Dropkick Murphys, helped his team to a first place finish on the Oaks Course. Casey’s team included Jon Stevens, Dave Baker, Neil Cohen and David Thomas. Blake Wheeler’s team, including Thor Swanson, Ronald Falkner, Chris Severance and Shawn Daley, placed second.

Dennis Wideman’s team, consisting of Will Cunningham, Jon Chin, Jeff Goldstein and James Stoller, placed third.

Savard and Kobasew were chosen for the shootout contest by getting their ball “closest to the hole” on one hole for both the Pines and Oaks Course. All other contestants paid $50 to compete on the hole so that the four closest contestants to the hole from each course were chosen to compete in the Shootout Contest Finals. Rick Middleton, Derek Sanderson, John Burke, Ace Eaton and Marc Pasquale were the other contestants.

Savard got his ball closest to the whole with a first place win and a trip to Bermuda, Thomas placed second and won two round-trip Air Tran vouchers, Eaton placed third and won a Lenovo Laptop and Middleton placed fourth and won a Microsoft Zune. The other four contestants won $100 gift certificates to The International Pro Shop.

The golfers were having a great time and it was all while supporting a good cause.

“The Boston Bruins Foundation does a lot of great work in the community,” said Dennis Wideman, “So anytime we can get out and help – I know they do a lot of stuff with kids – and any time we can get out and help with the kids, it’s great.”

The live auction alone raised $19,700 for the Boston Bruins Foundation and the total amount raised during the event was to be determined as of noontime Wednesday. However, there were 250 participants, current players and alumni included, to make 25 teams of 5 for the Oaks Course and the Pines Course, so the Foundation surely did its job for charity.

Wideman commented about being able to play golf with the current players as well as the alumni.

“To see the camaraderie between the guys that are playing now and the guys that played ten, fifteen years ago is awesome,” said Wideman. “And it speaks a lot about the organization as a whole.”

Speaking about camaraderie between current players and alumni, Ray Bourque said that he marks his calandar early for the Foundation's annual rite of fall.

“This is one tournament I always look forward to,” said Ray Bourque, a legendary Bruin and Hockey Hall of Famer. “A lot of players [are here] that you played with or came before you and the present players, it’s an opportunity for everybody to meet and chat and talk and to get to know each other more.

“[It’s great] to see old friendships and talk about old times and in the mean time we’re raising great money for the Foundation” said Bourque.

“They [the Bruins] really do a great job to help a lot of different charities around Boston. It’s one thing, when you play for the Bruins that they get involved and they really make a difference and they’re always willing to go out there and raise money for a lot of different charities.

“This is one of their big events; just that whole combination of all that stuff makes for a really fun day.”