The seventh-annual Northwest Iowa National Invitational gets set to take center stage at Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars in the coming days. Tournament director Dan Gray says preparation has been ongoing for this year’s tournament ever since the sixth-annual edition concluded last year.
As the tournament has progressed, word has gotten around the country about the quality of tournament that is put on in Le Mars. Gray says that has made it easier to find teams that are willing to make sometimes long journeys to play in the two-day event.
The fun gets started on Saturday, September 13 when Remsen native Dan Boever will put on a golf showcase for anyone to attend. Gray says it is great for him to be back in the area, and it is great for the college golfers to see what he can do.
After Saturday, the golfers will get their first crack at Willow Creek on Sunday with the college-amateur tournament that runs all day. Gray says it is a great opportunity to showcase the quality of individual golfers that will be in attendance.
Then, on Monday and Tuesday September 15 and 16, the golfers will compete in the two-day 54-hole tournament. A tournament of this size is quite the undertaking, and Gray says he is fortunate to have many volunteers step up to the tee box to make this tournament happen.
The best part of the tournament for spectators is that there is no entry fee to watch the golfers in action. Gray encourages anyone who is curious to come out and spend some time at the golf course to see some great competition right here in town.
This weekend also serves as a great fundraising opportunity for Junior Golf of Northwest Iowa of which Gray is also the President. Gray says through sponsorships for the college-am tournament and the invitational, folks are supporting many different programs the organization provides.
Tune in to KLEM heading into next week as we provide results and interview from the National Invitational as the golfers compete in the Ice Cream Capital of the World.
