Iverson shooting for a three-peat
Labor Day Golf starts Saturday at Buffalo Hill
By DAVID LESNICK/The Daily Inter Lake
Larry Iverson of Kalispell will get in a couple more rounds on his home course before he heads off to the University of Washington, for what he hopes will be a very successful collegiate golf career.
It may also be Iverson's most important three days of golf this summer.
Iverson is the two-time defending champion of the Labor Day Golf Tournament, which begins this weekend at Buffalo Hill Golf Club. He won last year with a 7-under par total of 207 and a two-stroke edge over runner-up Scott Desmarais of Calgary. Desmarais won it in 2004.
Calgary's Gaylene Donald, who has won this tournament 15 times, is not entered. An illness in her immediate family has forced her to pass on playing here this year. She is expected to return in 2010.
Donald would have been shooting for a four-peat.
The Labor Day tournament is celebrating its 72nd year. Play will start Saturday at 8 a.m. with the top men entrants on the Cameron Nine and the leading women on the Championship 18. All players will make two tours of the Championship 18 and two of the Cameron Nine in the 54-hole event. The public is invited to watch every day.
"It is one of the oldest repeating tournaments in Montana," Buffalo Hill head golf professional Dave Broeder said.
"It has a great tradition. There is good golf competition, and a good social gathering as well.
The men's and women's overall winners receive merchandise, plus a Mark Ogle print.
All flight winners receive an Ogle print.
"A real strong field (men and women)," Broeder said.
"Over 24 players (men) with a handicap index of 2.8 or less."
Iverson won this tournament as a junior and senior in high school while attending Glacier. He became the youngest player to win the tournament at the age of 16.
Broeder said the men's and women's field are filled to capacity, which translates to 151 men and 34 women. Golfers making the furthest trek to play here are from Alaska and North Carolina.
Other former champions returning are (men): Dave Morberg (1976, 1991, 1992, 1993) of Whitefish; Ryan Santa (1998) of Kalispell; Dan Kiley (1983, 1984, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005) of Seattle; Casey Keyser (2001) of Kalispell; Justin Dorr (2002) of Boise, Idaho; Tom Desmarais (1979) of Calgary; and Rene Desmarais (1995) of Calgary.
Some local golfers who could make some noise this weekend are: Shawn Tucker of Whitefish, Mark Mance of Whitefish, Glacier High School players Grahm Schmaltz, Justin Newton and Trey Griffith, Logan Lindholm of Kalispell, Jeff Epperly of Kalispell, and Don Walter of Kalispell.
The lone former champion in this year's women's field is Debbie Boreson (2004) of Kalispell. She is regarded as one of the favorites, along with Glacier High School standout Karli Aurich.
Aurich finished second last year, six shots behind Donald. Boreson was third, one shot behind Aurich.
Other challengers include: Jocelyn Alford of Calgary; Vicki Weishaar of Polson; Jerie Clark of Kalispell; and Deb Hadley of Kalispell
"The course is in great shape," Broeder said.
"It's still nice and lush, the greens should be true and fast. It will definitely be in tournament condition."