The North Dakota Open is the North Dakota state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers.

History

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

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