Golfers take to Whitefish for 4th of July tourney Thursday

Defending champion Cory Mehl heads a 220-person field for the 89th annual Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. 

The three-day event kicks off on Thursday with the men’s field playing the North Course Thursday and Saturday and the South Course Friday. 

Mehl faces stiff competition from a pair of former champs in Andrew Medley — the 2012 and 2016 winner — and 2019 winner Sean Remsbacher of Missoula. Also among the contenders entering the weekend are Whitefish’s Sam Krause and Arizona’s Jason Johnstone. 

For the senior division, two-time defending champion Brad Grattan looks to make it three. Grattan finished third in the senior division at the Montana State Amateur June 26-28 in Missoula. 

He’ll face competition from Ron Remsbacher and Bob Hasquet of Missoula and 2021 champion Bill Dunn. 

Rayna Ports looks to defend her women’s title. The ladies competition takes to the south course on Thursday and Saturday with the North Course holding round two Friday. 

Hannah Ports, Lauren Greeny and Stella Claridge expect to give Ports a run for the title over the weekend.