Young champs take over Labor Day golf

The youth movement at Buffalo Hill Golf Club's Labor Day Golf Tournament will likely continue this weekend during the 74th edition of this annual event.

Young Teigan Avery of Kalispell captured the ladies title a year ago with a dramatic victory. She rallied from four strokes back to pass ex-champ Debbie Boreson of Kalispell with a final round 83 and a six-shot advantage.

Avery, now 13, is back to defend her title.

"As far as our records go, it showed she was the youngest champion," PGA head pro at Buffalo Hill Golf Club Dave Broeder said.

"That was her first year (playing in the tournament)."

Two previous teenage winners on the men's side also return.

Larry Iverson III won back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008 while playing high school golf at Glacier. Iverson is now a junior at the University of Washington.

Graham Schmaltz, a 2010 graduate of Glacier High School, won it in 2009 with birdies on five of the final 12 holes to deny Iverson a three-peat.

Those two were favored last year, and are expected to be near the lead on the leaderboard this time.

Last year's champ - veteran Scott Desmarais of Calgary - was a wire-to-wire victor. He finished five shots ahead of runner-up Logan Lindholm, a current member of the Glacier golf squad, and 10 shots better than Schmaltz, who was fifth.

Desmarais, who also won the Labor Day in 2006, will not be back to defend his title.

"He will not be able to attend this year because of a scheduling conflict," Broeder said.

"A family commitment ... he will be back next year."

Also missing the tournament are four more Desmarais - Mike, Tom, Rene and Georgia.

"All good players who would contend," Broeder said.

Play begins 8 a.m. on Saturday. The 54-hole tournament ends Monday.

All golfers will spend two days on the Championship 18 and play two rounds on the Cameron Nine.

The tournament is at full capacity with 154 men and 39 women.

The women's numbers are up.

"We should have a good, strong ladies field," Broeder said.

"A little bigger than normal."

Broeder said "with the reputation of this tournament, more ladies are excited to play (in it).

"Word of mouth is our best advertiser," Broeder added.

"We get a lot of referrals from past players who say this is a great tournament and lots of fun, which is nice."

In addition to Avery and Boreson, Vicki Lucas of Polson, Jeri Clark of Kalispell, Cindy Reimers of Missoula and Katelyn Inlow of Canada look to contend.

Back to men, Logan Iverson of Glacier, Justine Dorr of Boise, formerly of Kalispell, Dan Kiley of Seattle, Frank Sutton of Calgary, Ryan Santa of Kalispell and Don Walter of Kalispell could challenge.

Kiley is a seven-time champ, while Dorr, Santa and Walter are also former champions.

"We have a real strong field," Broeder said for the men.

"We have some new low handicap players coming in. Eight players have a zero handicap or better."

Broeder said the course is in a great shape.

"I'm sure the players will be challenged by it," he said

"The weather is suppose to be decent, so we should have a great weekend."