The fourth annual Northwest Iowa National Invitational golf tournament concluded on Tuesday afternoon in Le Mars. The field finished their 54 holes of golf and were ready to crown champions.
On the men’s side, Ottawa University of Arizona won the team tournament with a total of 861 which was three strokes under par. Jack Dudeck of The Master’s University of California won the individual title with a three-round total of 211 which was five strokes under par. The weather plus the long days of golf took its toll on some of the golfers. Dudeck says he maintained a level head, and it showed with his win.
On the women’s side, Keiser University of Florida won the team title shooting an 880 which was 16 strokes over par. The individual title went to Texas Wesleyan University’s Malisone Chanthapanya for the second year in a row. She shot a 213 to finish three-under par and win the title by three strokes. Chanthapanya says her game is predicated on focusing on what she does, not what her competition is doing.
For Dudeck, he has been at the top of golf leaderboards his entire college career. He was the NAIA National Individual Runner-up last season, a two-time conference champion, and he’s been a first-team All-American twice. He says performing well in Le Mars was special because the course felt like home.
Chanthapanya had a stellar freshman year that started with her winning this same tournament in the fall of 2021 and ending with her being an All-American. She says the people of Le Mars and the work that goes into this tournament make it one of the best around.
Tournament Director Dan Gray was very pleased with the golf he saw throughout the tournament. He says he was pleased especially considering how the course changed with the weather from beginning to end.
Gray says a tournament like this can’t be put on at this kind of scale without the support of the community.
All proceeds from the festivities this week will go to benefit Junior Golf of Northwest Iowa.
