Spokane Shriners’ Hospital benefits from four-day event
The lure of a record payout for the winner promises to help add more interest to this week’s 52nd annual Lilac City Invitational golf tournament at The Fairways.
Bumped by $2,000 to a hefty $10,000, the purse has attracted some familiar names to the West Plains event that kicks off today, July 6 with the first of four rounds of play.
“We’re excited at the prospect of increasing the strength and size of our professional field,” Fairways general manager and PGA professional, Kris Kallem said in the release. “The hook is the $10,000 first place check but with a larger field brings the ability to make the professional payout deeper as well.”
This year’s favorites in the professional division include Kevin Pomarleau of Wenatchee, Brian Miller of Madras, Ore., Jimmy Mee of Libby, Mont. and Cody Eberl of Denver, Colo., a course news release said.
Defending champion Derek Barron will not return as he is playing on the Canadian PGA Tour.
While the payout is a nice plum, another factor has played into the Lilac’s popularity since it was reborn at the Fairways in 2012 after a six-year hiatus. It is the only 72-hole tournament in the region and that is due in part to the desire of the players to play on the PGA tour.
“We ran a survey of the players after last year’s tournament and the majority strongly favored the four-round format,” Kallem said. The Lilac is open to both professional and amateur golfers with a USGA handicap.
It’s a quality field of pretty talented golfers from across the Western U.S. that find their way to The Fairways.
“We’ve had players like Troy Kelly and last year’s champion, Derek Barron, go on to play in U.S. Opens,” Kallem said. “These guys are really talented and for those who can’t play in the event, we encourage them to come out and watch the professionals, and enjoy the extra-curricular activities like the long drive contest,” which takes place Friday afternoon.
Spectator tickets are $10 and can be purchased at http://www.golfthefairways.com or in the Fairways pro shop. Proceeds from ticket sales and the putting contest go to support the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane, last year delivering an $11,000 check to the organization.
The Lilac features a three-day cash putting contest with the finals on Saturday and a long drive competition on Friday evening followed by live music with Dusty Klink and his band, “Nobody Famous.” These events are open to the public.
Lilac City Invite Info
Registration and further information is available at http://www.golfthefairways.com or by calling (509) 747-8418.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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