Lilac Invite prep continues at The Fairways

The planning for the party, and the Lilac City Invitational golf tournament that goes with it, continues at The Fairways Golf Course.

The West Plains course presents the 52nd edition of the event which runs July 9-12 and will once again benefit Shriner's Hospital.

"We've made a couple of changes to the overall theme of the event this year - not so much with a format change standpoint with the golf and competition - we're going to put a hospitality tent behind the 18th green this year," head pro and general manager Kris Kallem said.

The Lilac, the region's only 72-hole event, has long been known for more than just golf, but that's been pretty spectacular in the tournament's revival.

In 2012, amateur Hank Frame, a member of the Washington State University golf team, won the title in sudden death in the revived tournament that was last played in 2006. Clarkston pro Russell Grove "breezed" to a three-shot victory in 2013 and Tony Robydek took a two-shot win, rallying from a stroke down on the last hole for the 2014 title.

Other golf-related competition includes the Friday, July 10 long drive contest and three days worth of putting competition, which culminates Saturday.

The 2015 Lilac will have an admission charge for the first time, but all the proceeds will go to the Shriners. The $10 per day, or $15 charge for all four days will include parking and a complimentary drink ticket. The band "Smash Hit Carnival" will play Thursday night in the hospitality area.

"The hope is to make it a public event and get as many people as possible out," Kallem said. "People that do come out and watch it just have a blast." The more people, the more doors it opens, Kallem added.

The Lilac is not your typical quiet, straight-laced type of tournament, Kallem said. "It's an event where there are just some unbelievably talented golfers but people like to come out, party, and have fun, too."

There's a significant bump in the purse, with the first place check at $8,000 a few months ago, up from $5,000 in 2014, but possibly headed towards $10,000. But despite the more handsome payday, the field still remains somewhat fluid because of serious competition elsewhere for golfers that same weekend.

"I have a few new players on the pro side," Kallem said. A couple of possible professional entries from the Southwest called to inquire but had a possible stop on the way at a Boise, Idaho mini-tour.

"They're on the fence," Kallem said. "If they qualify for that they'll play there because the purse is so much greater, but if they don't they'll play up here."

Defending champ Robydek has already entered, Kallem said. "We should have the usual suspects and hopefully a few more."

700 ESPN sports radio will broadcast from the tournament Thursday, July 9.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].