Acharya returns to defend 4th of July golf title
The 83rd annual Earl Hunt Memorial 4th of July Golf Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club begins its three-day run Thursday, July 4th.
Play starts each day of the 54-hole event at 7:30 a.m.
The men will play the South Course the first day, the North Course the second and the South Course again on the final day.
The order for women is North, South and North.
The field will consist of 240 entries.
“Maxed out,” Tim Olson, the PGA head professional at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, said.
“There is a waiting list on that number.”
Olson said the tournament field was filled by April 1.
“It’s one of the premier events in the Pacific Northwest,” Olson said.
Jasi Acharya of Carver, Minnesota, returns to defend her women’s title, but Cory Mehl of Seattle is not entered.
Mehl has turned professional, making him ineligible for play.
Acharya broke the South Course record on the first day of play a year ago with a 63. Par is 72.
She finished four shots ahead of the field
Mehl claimed a one-shot victory over Logan Lindholm of Kalispell.
The last local 4th of July winner was Josh Gold of Kalispell in 2006.
Before that, it was Christine Newton of Whitefish and David Morberg of Kalispell, both in 1987.
“It has a lot to do with the (talented) field,” Olson said of why this tournament is so difficult for local golfers to win.
Year in and year out, it attracts top collegiate and prep players along with outstanding amateurs.
Kramer Hickok of Plano, Texas, who won the tournament in 2013-14, was a member of the University of Texas golf team those two years. He is currently on the professional tour.
“We have two high quality courses,” Olson said of what draws the players here.
“The atmosphere of the club, people having a great time, the derby, music on the deck and the town of Whitefish … there is so much to do with the lake and the culture. A variety of things to do. It’s almost a vacation for most of these guys and gals.”
And speaking of the course …
“It is spectacular,” Olson said.
“Outstanding. We had a wet June and that has helped get things growing. Now we expect sunshine next week.”
There will be a Derby the second night of the tournament featuring the top men and women finishers from opening day. That will begin at 5 p.m. and be played on the front nine of the North Course.
People are encouraged to attend and watch the action all three days.
“There will be 300, 400 in the gallery,” Olson said.
“It’s festive for sure.”
Earl Hunt Memorial 4th of July Golf Tournament
Whitefish Lake Golf Club
Past Winners
2018
Men — Cory Mehl, Seattle
Women — Jasi Acharya, Carver, Minnesota
2017
Men — Joey Moore, Billings
Women — Hailey Hoagland, Butte
2016
Men — Andrew Medley, Scottsdale, Arizona
Women — Sadie Crippen, Missoula
2015
Men — Bob Conrad, Yarrow Point, Washington
Women — Darah Newell, Helena
2014
Men — Kramer Hickok, Plano, Texas
Women — Morgan Lee, Great Falls
2013
Men — Kramer Hickok, Plano, Texas
Women — Lindsay Reeve, Missoula
2012
Men — Andrew Medley, Scottsdale, Arizona
Women — Morgan Lee, Great Falls
2011
Men — Craig Hurlbert, Hamilton
Women — Rikka Holiday, Bozeman
2010
Men — Jake Wagner, Portland, Oregon
Women — Darah Newell, Helena
2009
Men — Jens Bracht, Lake Front, Washington
Women — Rose Stepanek, Missoula