Schmaltz, Iverson, Labor Day golf favorites
Youth has prevailed the last three years at the Labor Day golf tournament at Buffalo Hill Golf Club, and there's an excellent chance that trend will continue for another year.
Two-time champ Larry Iverson, a sophomore at the University of Washington, and defending champion Grahm Schmaltz, a 2010 graduate of Glacier High School, head a full field for the 73rd edition of this event.
Schmaltz birdied five of the final 12 holes to prevent Iverson, who also graduated from Glacier, from winning this tournament three straight years. Schmaltz finished three shots ahead of Iverson. who tied for second with Ryan Linnell.
Other former champions returning, and who could press the two youngsters for the title, are Scott Desmarais of Calgary, Dave Morberg of Kalispell and Dan Kiley of Seattle
Play begins 8 a.m. today with the top two men's championship flights playing the Cameron Nine twice. The rest of the field will be on the Championship 18.
Each flight will play 18 holes on the Cameron 9 and 36 holes on the Championship 18.
The 54-hole event ends Monday.
"We have another strong field this year," Buffalo Hill head golf professional Dave Broeder said.
"The course is in great shape, as usual."
Broeder said there was a waiting list again this year for the tournament.
"Players are in from the East Coast, Texas, California, Oregon, Washington and Canada," he said.
"A great field from all over. We're looking to have an excellent weekend."
Other golfers expected to contend in men's play are Shawn Tucker of Whitefish, Mark Mance of Whitefish, Craig Hurlbert of Hamilton, Logan Lindholm of Kalispell, Frank Sutton of Calgary, Justin Dorr of Boise and Ryan Santa of Kalispell
Morberg and Mance tied for fourth last year. They were six shots off the pace.
The leading contenders for the women's title are Debbie Boreson of Kalispell, Vicki Weishaar of Polson,
Katelyn Inlow of Calgary, Jerie Clark of Kalispell, 12-year-old Teigan Avery of Kalispell,
Georgia Desmarais of Calgary and Debbie Hadley of Kalispell.
Jocelyn Alford of Calgary won the women's title last year. Boreson was second.
Play begins 8 a.m. all three days and spectators are welcome.
Sunday evening there will be a mixed derby at 5.
There are 165 men entered.
The women's field will consist of 35 players.