The 58th annual Smokey Bear Golf Invitational taking place this Saturday and Sunday at the Falls Country Club will have a new overall champion as well as debuting a new division for seniors, said tournament director Dave Cronin.
As of last Friday, he said well over 100 golfers already registered in the men’s invite for amateurs, which has a goal of having 120 compete.
Cronin said the 2011 champion, Wade Walters, won’t be on hand for this year’s tournament, assuring a new overall champion this year.
He said this year’s entrants include last year’s runner-up, Mike Cocanour, as well as the 2012 MSHSL Class AA state champion, Taylor Sundbom of Hermantown, along with Falls High School graduates who have qualified for the Class AA state tournament the last couple of years, Glenn Walls, Derek Riley, Jeff Shermoen and Brett Musich.
In response to interest in having a seniors division, Cronin said golfers 50 and older will be able to compete this year for the inaugural seniors title.
After the initial 18 holes Saturday, he said the top-12 scores will qualify to play 27 holes Sunday for the overall championship, while the top-12 golfers age 50 and over will be able to play 27 holes Sunday for the seniors division championship.
Cronin said golfers 50 and older in the top-12 overall will have the option Sunday of playing for either the overall or seniors title, but not both, with the championship flight teeing off from the blue tees and the senior flight using the white tees.
“There are a lot of past champions that are still quality players,” he said.
In the event there is a tie Saturday for the top-12 places, Cronin said a playoff will be held to determine who will play 27 holes on Sunday.
Weather permitting, he said the final nine holes, which have drawn a significant number of spectators in the past, would begin Sunday afternoon with the awards ceremony expected to take place at around 5 p.m.
Cronin said the remaining golfers not in the championship and senior flights will be placed in flights of eight, based on their scores Saturday, to play 18 holes Sunday.
He said gift certificates from the Falls Country Club pro shop will be awarded to the top-six golfers in the championship and senior flights and to the top four in each of the remaining flights.
This Friday, prior to the Smokey Bear tournament, Cronin said the 18-hole Ross Memorial to raise funds for Hospice will be held.
