54 Leo Spooner th
Invitational September 5th - 8th, 2024 Northland Country Club Duluth, Minnesota
Table of Contents About Leo Spooner
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Invitation
Page 4
Registration
Page 5
Tournament Format
Page 6
Tournament Schedule
Page 7
Past Champions
Page 8 & 9
Contact Information
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Page 10
About Leo Spooner Born in 1927, Leo Spooner is a Duluth golf icon. He spent nearly his entire life in Duluth, playing Enger Park Golf Course in his early years until he became a member of Northland Country Club in 1956. Leo had a long and decorated amateur golf career on both a local and national scale. He holds the record for most wins at the Northland Invitational with 10, spanning from 1956 to 1984. On a national level, he qualified for 17 USGA Championships. Leo played in 6 U.S. Amateur Championships, reaching the round of 16 twice. He competed in 3 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships, including a semifinal appearance in 1983 and a run to the quarterfinals in 1986. Along with his 9 Amateur tournament appearances, he qualified to play in the U.S. Open 8 times.
In 1990, Leo was inducted into the Minnesota Golf Association Hall of Fame. After listing his numerous achievements, his plaque says the following: “In addition to winning many titles throughout Minnesota, Spooner is respected for his sportsmanship and willingness to share with others his knowledge of the game. He is one of the most popular amateurs in our area.” He became known as Leo the Legend, a truly fitting nickname.
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Invitation On behalf of the Tournament Committee at Northland Country Club, you are cordially invited to play in the 54th
Leo Spooner Invitational, to be held from September 5th - 8th, 2024 in Duluth, Minnesota.
Inside this booklet you will find pertinent information about the tournament and registration process.
Back in 1970, Leo wanted to host a tournament that attracted all of the top players in the area. From that idea, the Leo Spooner Invitational was created; we look forward to renewing this annual tradition in September. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Northland Professional Staff with any comments, questions, or concerns.
Connor Bergman, PGA
Gregg McCall
Head Golf Professional
Tournament Chairperson
Northland Country Club 4
Registration Registration Process Interested teams, whether Northland Members or Non-Members, can register beginning on April 3rd and continuing through the end of April. The registration link will be sent to past participants via e-mail. After registration has closed, the Tournament Committee will select the field from all registered teams based on their recent Leo Spooner Invitational performance, playing ability, past participation in the event, and membership status at Northland. Ultimately, to honor Leo’s vision for the event, the most competitive field possible will be selected. The Championship Division will be comprised of 48 teams, and the Senior Division will have 24 teams. The Field List & Waitlist will be sent on May 7th. At this time, NCC Members in the field will have the entry
fee billed to their account (the fee will be split in half for teams comprised of 2 members). Non-Member teams will be sent an invoice, which must be paid by May 15th. Any team not paying by this date will forfeit their spot in the field.
Waitlist The Waitlist sent on May 7th will be separated by division and listed in order of priority. As teams in the field withdraw, our Golf Professional Staff will inform teams on the waitlist of their opportunity to join the
event. Teams who have been notified of their spot will have 48 hours to accept or decline. Member waitlist teams who accept their invitation will have the tournament entry fee billed to their account (this fee will be split in half for teams comprised of two NCC members). Teams without a Member will be sent an invoice via email and will have another 48 hours to pay it. If it is not paid at this time, the invitation will be rescinded and sent to the next team on the waitlist.
Withdrawal Deadline The last day to withdraw from the event without penalty is Thursday, August 1st. Teams withdrawing after this date are subject to forfeiture of their entry fee.
Entry Fee The entry fee is $650 + tax per team This includes golf, food, cart fees, and prizes 5
Tournament Format Format Championship Division: 36 Holes of Gross Four-ball from the Blue Tees
Senior Division: 36 Holes of Gross Four-ball from the White Tees Both players must be aged 55 or older to be eligible for the Senior Division
Optional Events The optional Practice Round will have a $100 per team four-ball available The Practice Round and both Tournament Rounds will have $20 per player Gross Skins games available The Tournament Rounds will have a $200 per team Players Pool available All games are separated by division Teams who wish to enter every optional event can pay $420 prior to the Practice Round. This will cover all 3 days of Skins for both players, the Practice Round four-ball, and the Tournament Players Pool.
Discussion of Championship Division Teams We will host a Discussion of Championship Division Teams promptly at 8:00 PM on Friday in the JR Link Grill Teams will be divided into Pods of 3 for the Discussion
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Tournament Schedule Thursday, September 5th Senior Practice Round Tee Times available from 11:00 AM to 12:50 PM and 1:40 to 2:30 PM
Friday, September 6th Lunch is available beginning at 10:30 AM The Senior First Round & Championship Practice Round is a 12:00 PM Shotgun Start Social Hour in the Ballroom begins at 5:30 PM The Leo Spooner Steak Dinner begins at 6:30 PM in the Ballroom All participants are invited to attend with a plus one Dress shirts & sport coats are recommended The Discussion of Teams begins promptly at 8:00 PM in the JR Link Grill
Saturday, September 7th Championship First Round Tee Times from 7:30 to 9:30 AM* Senior Final Round Tee Times from 12:30 to 1:30 PM* Breakfast is available beginning at 6:30 AM Lunch is available from 11:00 AM until 2:30 PM on the 1st and 10th Tees
Sunday, September 8th Championship Final Round Tee Times from 8:00 to 10:00 AM* Breakfast is available beginning at 7:00 AM
*Indicates a two-tee start 7
Past Champions 1970 John Douglas Gary Burton
1979 Harry Newby Jr. Steve Stojevich
1988 Ted Bodine Dick Brozo
1971 Harry Newby Jr. David Vosika
1980 Lee Kolquist Mark Kolquist
1989 Steve Stojevich Tony Maki
1972 Robert Magie III Reed Mackenzie
1981 Lee Kolquist Mark Kolquist
1990 Lance Kerness Kyle Anderson
1973 Robert Magie III Reed Mackenzie
1982 Larry Everett Jim Jensen
1992 Steve Stojevich Tony Maki
1974 Dick Johnson Steve Johnson
1983 Leo Spooner Robert Magie III
1993 Reed Kolquist Tony Battistini
1975 Jeff Krummel Bob Bailey
1984 Steve Stojevich Pat Fairchild
1994 Reed Kolquist Tony Battistini
1976 Steve Stojevich Pat Fairchild
1985 John McMorrow Dan Luther
1995 Jamie Thelen Tim Thelen
1977 Steve Stojevich Pat Fairchild
1986 Larry Everett Jim Jensen
1996 Kevin Treacy Rick Ehrmanntraut
1978 Robert Magie III Lyn Ellingson
1987 Steve Stojevich Tony Maki
1997 Dan Fitus Mark Peterson
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Past Champions 1998 Mark Aldrich John Brellenthin
2007 David Haselrud Matt Yeager
2016 Taylor Sundbom Kyle Ernst
1999 Lee Kolquist Mark Johnson
2008 Brent Jacobson Troy Johnson
2017 Phil Ebner Jack Ebner
2000 Bill Israelson John Israelson
2009 Erik Ecker Chris Daniels
2018 Tim Herron Carson Herron
2001 Joe Jeannette Jim Abelsen
2010 Erik Ecker Chris Daniels
2019 Tim Herron Carson Herron
2002 Paul Schintz Mark Nowlin
2011 Reed Kolquist Tom Waitrovich
2020 Ryan Conn Josh Persons
2003 Bill Riddering Gary Jacobson
2012 Brent Jacobson Troy Johnson
2021 Joel Johnson Trent Peterson
2004 Kyle Ness Kevin Noreen
2013 JB Lloyd Pete Honsa Jr.
2022 Taylor Sundbom Matt Mellin
2005 Troy Johnson Brent Jacobson
2014 Jon Montei Paul Kelley
2023 Joel B. Johnson Trent Peterson
2006 Reed Kolquist Lee Kolquist
2015 Jordan Hawkinson Will Hickey 9
Northland Country Club 3901 E Superior St. Duluth, MN 55804
www.northlandcountryclub.com Main Office: (218) 525-1941 Golf Shop: (218) 525-1970
Connor Bergman, PGA
Head Golf Professional cbergman@northlandcountryclub.com Gregg McCall Tournament Chairperson
Dan Kilgore Assistant Golf Professional dkilgore@northlandcountryclub.com Kordell Swanson Assistant Golf Professional kswanson@northlandcountryclub.com Sean McCarthy Assistant Golf Professional smccarthy@northlandcountryclub.com
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