The North Dakota Open is the North Dakota state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It was first held in 1964 and since 1986, has been an event on the Dakotas Tour. It is hosted at the Fargo Country Club in Fargo, North Dakota.

History

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The inaugural event was in 1964. The event was one-round long and had a purse of $2,000.[1] Eddie Langert of St. Paul, Minnesota shot a par-72 to win the tournament by three strokes over Corky Dahl, Herb Marcussen, and Paul O'Leary.[2] The following year the tournament increased to two rounds long. In addition, prize money increased to $3,500 and the winner's cheque was now $600.[3] George Shortridge shot an opening round 73 (+1) to take a one-stroke lead. He led by one over Langert and Byron Comstock. A further shot behind were a number of players including Corky Dahl and Fargo's "host pro" Jack Webb.[3] Langert and Webb outplayed all competitors during the final round and were "deadlocked" down the stretch. However, Webb holed a 40-yard approach shot for a birdie at the par-4 18th hole to assure the win. His 70 (−2) was the only under-par round of the tournament. At 145 (+1), Webb defeated Langert by two strokes.[4]

In 1968, the total prize money increased to $10,000.[5] In 1969, at least 42 professionals entered the event, the most ever.[6] As of 1970, the event remained at Fargo Country Club.[7] Before the 1970 tournament it was announced that, "Most of the leading pros in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Canada have indicated they will enter," including Mike Morley, PGA Tour professional.[8] In 1972, Bill Schwenneker, former assistant professional at Fargo Country Club, won the event.[9][10] In 1973, the winner's prize increased to $1,600. Morley, the PGA Tour pro, won the event.[11] In 1974, Dave Comstock broke Fargo Country Club's course record during the tournament. He shot an opening round 65 breaking Mike Morley's course record.[12] In the early summer of 1975 there were extensive floods in the Fargo region. The tournament, which was scheduled to be played in September, was cancelled by July 18.[13] In mid-1970s, the tournament started to alternate between Fargo Country Club and Oxbow Country Club with the final round at Fargo CC.[14] By the late 1970s, the tournament alternated between Fargo CC and Moorhead Country Club.[15]

In 1980, there was a significant increase in prize money making it the "richest" North Dakota Open ever. The overall purse expanded from $32,000 to $40,000 and the winner's cheque increased from $4,000 to $5,000.[16] In 1981, the winner's prize money had increased to $6,000.[17] In 1984, the tournament started to be sponsored by the Melroe Division Clark Equipment Company.[18] In 1985, Skip Holten broke the tournament record with a 203 total.[19]

Winners

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Year Champion Score Ref.
Bobcat North Dakota Open
2024 Brady Calkins 203
2023 Andre Metzger 205
2022 Michael Mattiace 197
2021 Andre Metzger 203
2020 Andre Metzger 200
2019 Tim Ailes 203
2018 Kevin Stanek 131
2017 Tom Hoge 196
2016 Hudson Carpenter 206
2015 Matt Miller 203
2014 Ricky Hearden III 200
2013 Andre Metzger 207
2012 Ryan Lenahan 205
2011 Tim Ailes 198
2010 Tim Ailes 202
2009 Patrick Stolpe 204
2008 Brady Schnell 202
2007 Kane Hanson 204
2006 David Schultz 202
2005 Chad Fribley 203
2004 Dean North 198
2003 Mike Podolak (a) 206
2002 Paul Wackerly 200
2001 Douglas Ferris 209
2000 Dustin Wigington 204
1999 Jeff Schmid 135
1998 Aaron Barber 205
1997 Jeff Schmid 206
1996 Steve Shriver 206
1995 Greg Ladehoff 205
1994 Chuck Moran 208
Melroe-North Dakota Open
1993 Doug Dunakey 207
1992 Bill Israelson 207
1991 Jim Ahern 202
1990 Bart Bryant 200
1989 Jeff Coston 206
1988 Joel Edwards 211 [20][21]
1987 John Snyder 203 [22]
1986 James Blair 209
1985 Skip Holton 203 [19]
1984 Tony Grimes 205
North Dakota Open
1983 Barney Thompson 209 [23]
1982 Jim Ahern 213
1981 Billy Pierot 207 [24][25]
1980 Bill Israelson 206 [26][27]
1979 Doug Higgins 207 [28]
1978 Mike Morley1 209 [29]
1977 Dennis Sullivan2 213 [30]
1976 Jim Shade 207 [31]
1975 Tournament cancelled due to flood [13]
1974 Ron Benson 210 [32][33]
1973 Mike Morley 217 [34][35]
1972 Bill Schwenneker 213 [36]
1971 John Cook 215 [37]
1970 Jim Doyle (a) 146 [38]
1969 John Cook 138 [39][40]
1968 George Shortridge 143 [41]
1967 Dave Gumlia 144
1966 Dave Gumlia 142 [42]
1965 Jack Webb 145 [4]
1964 Ed Langert 72 [2][43]

Source:[10]

(a) denotes amateur
1 Morley's birdie on first sudden-death playoff hole defeated Dan Halldorson
2 Sullivan won on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff

References

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  1. ^ "6 May 1965, 19 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "28 Sep 1964, Page 10 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "12 Sep 1965, Page 41 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "13 Sep 1965, Page 30 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "13 Aug 1968, Page 13 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "14 Sep 1969, 32 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "3 Sep 1970, 20 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "4 Sep 1970, 12 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "9 Sep 1974, Page 26 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Bobcat North Dakota Open". Bobcat Company. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "12 Sep 1973, 31 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "7 Sep 1974, 15 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "18 Jul 1975, 13 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  14. ^ "11 Sep 1976, 14 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "8 Sep 1979, 25 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "31 Aug 1980, 50 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "15 Sep 1981, Page 13 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "31 May 1984, 9 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "10 Sep 1985, 18 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  20. ^ "13 Sep 1988, 16 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  21. ^ "12 Sep 1988, 14 - Lincoln Journal Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  22. ^ "15 Sep 1987, 19 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  23. ^ "Argus-Leader 13 Sep 1983, page Page 20". Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  24. ^ "14 Sep 1981, 15 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "14 Sep 1981, 19 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  26. ^ "10 Sep 1980, Page 22 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  27. ^ "8 Sep 1980, 19 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "10 Sep 1979, 27 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  29. ^ "11 Sep 1978, 14 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  30. ^ "12 Sep 1977, 18 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "13 Sep 1976, 18 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  32. ^ "9 Sep 1974, Page 12 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  33. ^ "9 Sep 1974, Page 26 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  34. ^ "10 Sep 1973, 16 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  35. ^ "10 Sep 1973, 13 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  36. ^ "11 Sep 1972, 14 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  37. ^ "14 Sep 2021, B4 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  38. ^ "14 Sep 1970, Page 15 - Argus-Leader at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  39. ^ "15 Sep 1969, 17 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  40. ^ "15 Sep 1969, Page 34 - Star Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  41. ^ "16 Sep 1968, 18 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  42. ^ "19 Sep 1966, 12 - Rapid City Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  43. ^ "25 Sep 2014, 28 - The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.