Tournament brings together business and government leaders
Jordan Dawson/Bigfork Eagle — Blu Funk, of Bigfork, tees off at Eagle Bend at the Governor's Cup, which also took place at Meadow Lake Golf Course.
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
Last weekend marked the 20th Montana Chamber and Governor's Cup golf tournament, in which business and government leaders from Montana and around the country meet in the Flathead Valley.
The event, which attracts 300 golfers and 75 sponsors from more than 25 states, is the largest business recreational tournament in Montana. Former Governors Tim Babcock, Stan Stephens and Judy Martz all participated in this year's tournament.
Proceeds help fund the High School Business Challenge, a foundation-sponsored statewide business learning experience for hundreds of Montana students each year. Each year an initial check of $5,000 is given to the foundation, and more funding is given as needed throughout the year.
The tournament began with a dinner on Thursday July 31 at the Kalispell Hilton Garden Inn. Past Governor's Cup planners and recent High School Business Challenge winners were recognized at the dinner. This year's opening event hosted 400 people, which is many more than past years, according to event coordinator Jim Tutwiler.
On Friday half of the players played at Eagle Bend Golf Course and the other half golfed at Meadow Lake Golf Course in Columbia Falls. On Saturday the two groups switched, so that everyone played both courses.
This year, in honor of the anniversary of the tournament, seven companies received special golf accessory prizes for 20 years of participation in the event, including local businesses; Semitool Inc., D.A. Davidson and Co., Columbia Falls Aluminum Company and First Interstate Bank of Kalispell.
The trophy will have two plaques added to it, one for guest and team net winners and one for gross guest and team winners, and will be stored in the club house and Eagle Bend Golf Course.
Tournament Results:
Guest Player Net
1st: Kathleen Paulson
2nd: Dave McAlpin
3rd: Gary Hubbard
4th: Randy Koon
5th: Karl Schnagl
Guest Player Gross
1st: Travis Williams
2nd: Scott Mizner
3rd: Scott Brunsdon
4th: Chris Richter
5th: Rob Braig
Team Net
1st: Semitool Inc.
2nd: Chrysler & Gordon CPA's PLLC
3rd: Anheuser Busch Companies
4th: Browning Kaleczyc Berry Hoven
5th: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway
Team Gross
1st: Valspar
2nd: LHC Inc.
3rd: Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage
4th Anderson Zurmuehlen
5th: F & J Partners
Closest to the Pin Eagle Bend
Jerry Gardner
Doug Miller
Dan Claridge
Bill Murray
Jessie Luther
Closest to the Pin Meadow Lake
Steve Eastlick
John Schiltgen
Brett Maas
Pat Clevenger
Pot of Gold
Amy Berry
George Dennison
Steve Gibson
Putting Contest
Blue Flight: Pat Clevenger
Red Flight: Chad Ward