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Longest Standing Colo. Golf Tournament Wraps Up

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Aug 19, 2012 at 6:23 PM MDT

Story Updated: Aug 20, 2012 at 8:10 AM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The 74th annual Enstrom Rocky Mountain golf tournament finished on Sunday. For three days golfers competed to win and to keep a long standing Colorado tradition alive.

One of the organizers for the tournament, Mike Knode, said, “This was our 74th year. We haven’t been here for 74 years, but the golf tournament has been.”

Over 200 amateurs and professionals from around the nation traveled to the Western Slope to tee off.

Dough Garwood, a professional golfer, said, “It’s a challenging course because of the greens, and so I enjoy that aspect.”

“Doug Garwood, who won the tournament, knocked it on the par 4 18th hole in one,” Knode said.

The Rocky Mountain Open started in 1939. It was the first tournament in Western Colorado to give amateur and professional golfers a chance to compete for their own prizes.

Knode said, “The very first tournament chairman was Chet Enstrom, who is the founder of Enstrom Candies.”

Dough Simons, president and owner of Enstrom Candies, said, “It’s the oldest continuously run tournament in the state of Colorado. We’re pleased to be involved with the Rocky Mountain Open.”

Those involved say they’re happy to see the historical tournament live on. “We’re very proud of the fact that we are bringing people to Grand Junction and we get to showcase our community,” said Knode.

Simons also said, “We’re hopeful to keep it moving along and keep it growing, even in these tough economic times.”

The tournament also serves another purpose: making a difference in a few junior golfers lives. Knode said, “We use the proceeds from this golf tournament to fund college scholarships for junior golfers from around the Western Slope. To this date we’ve done a little over $211,000."

Organizers say this year's tournament was a success, and that the competition, the energy and excitement were all up to par.

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Bertie Deering said on Tuesday, Aug 21 at 3:44 PM

Who were the winners and what were their scores?

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