Tournament brings together business and government leaders

Jordan Dawson/Bigfork Eagle -- Blu Funk, of Bigfork, tees off at Eagle Bend at the Governor's Cup, which also took place at Meadow Lake Golf Course.

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

Last weekend marked the 20th Montana Chamber and Governor's Cup golf tournament, in which business and government leaders from Montana and around the country meet in the Flathead Valley.

The event, which attracts 300 golfers and 75 sponsors from more than 25 states, is the largest business recreational tournament in Montana. Former Governors Tim Babcock, Stan Stephens and Judy Martz all participated in this year's tournament.

Proceeds help fund the High School Business Challenge, a foundation-sponsored statewide business learning experience for hundreds of Montana students each year. Each year an initial check of $5,000 is given to the foundation, and more funding is given as needed throughout the year.

The tournament began with a dinner on Thursday July 31 at the Kalispell Hilton Garden Inn. Past Governor's Cup planners and recent High School Business Challenge winners were recognized at the dinner. This year's opening event hosted 400 people, which is many more than past years, according to event coordinator Jim Tutwiler.

On Friday half of the players played at Eagle Bend Golf Course and the other half golfed at Meadow Lake Golf Course in Columbia Falls. On Saturday the two groups switched, so that everyone played both courses.

This year, in honor of the anniversary of the tournament, seven companies received special golf accessory prizes for 20 years of participation in the event, including local businesses; Semitool Inc., D.A. Davidson and Co., Columbia Falls Aluminum Company and First Interstate Bank of Kalispell.

The trophy will have two plaques added to it, one for guest and team net winners and one for gross guest and team winners, and will be stored in the club house and Eagle Bend Golf Course.

Tournament Results:

Guest Player Net

1st: Kathleen Paulson

2nd: Dave McAlpin

3rd: Gary Hubbard

4th: Randy Koon

5th: Karl Schnagl

Guest Player Gross

1st: Travis Williams

2nd: Scott Mizner

3rd: Scott Brunsdon

4th: Chris Richter

5th: Rob Braig

Team Net

1st: Semitool Inc.

2nd: Chrysler & Gordon CPA's PLLC

3rd: Anheuser Busch Companies

4th: Browning Kaleczyc Berry Hoven

5th: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway

Team Gross

1st: Valspar

2nd: LHC Inc.

3rd: Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage

4th Anderson Zurmuehlen

5th: F & J Partners

Closest to the Pin Eagle Bend

Jerry Gardner

Doug Miller

Dan Claridge

Bill Murray

Jessie Luther

Closest to the Pin Meadow Lake

Steve Eastlick

John Schiltgen

Brett Maas

Pat Clevenger

Pot of Gold

Amy Berry

George Dennison

Steve Gibson

Putting Contest

Blue Flight: Pat Clevenger

Red Flight: Chad Ward