One men’s golf tournament. Back-to-back weekends. Four 18-hole rounds. A pair of past two-time champions entered. Plenty of prizes.
Those are the primary points to remember about the 2024 Wabash Valley Classic, which begins with the first round Friday or Saturday (golfer’s choice) at Geneva Hills Course near Clinton.
The second round will take place Sunday at Forest Park in Brazil. Then on the following weekend, Rea Park will serve as host for Round 3 on Saturday, Sept. 28. The next Sunday, Sept. 29, will be the final round at Hulman Links.
What if one of the rounds gets rained out? Who knows? Visit www.tribstar.com or read the Tribune-Star print version afterward to find out, if that occurs.
Tournament organizer, Geneva Hills owner/general manager and Wabash Valley Golf Association (WVGA) president Eddie Kanizer said two-time WVC champions and Terre Haute residents Phillip Myers (2018 and 2023) and Chris Cassell (2019 and 2020) are entered for 2024.
However, past winners Kyle Stevenson (2021) and Nathan Long (2022) are unable to compete this year.
Cost to enter — it’s not too late — is $140, which includes a cart for all four days. All flight winners will receive $500, thanks to sponsorship money.
Got more questions? Call Geneva Hills at (765) 832-8384.
“This year, we have a corporate sponsor and I was fortunate enough to have my friends at Golden Nugget Danville [a casino in Illinois] kick in some sponsorship money as well as multiple prizes for every player who participates,” Kanizer mentioned.
“I do look forward to this time of year, and with the current landscape of local golf, this is about the only opportunity that we can get all the top players in the area together at once.
“On the other hand, there are opportunities for golfers of all levels, as well as a senior and super senior divisions. I see this event as a way to not only identify the best golfer in the area, but any golfer should be intrigued to play by the prize payout, other handouts, as well as four rounds with a cart for $140.”
Kanizer didn’t need to threaten the 35-year-old Myers with a good time to persuade him into entering again.
“I would love to repeat this year,” Myers told the Tribune-Star. “But I’m not optimistic about it. There are a lot of good players in this area and I don’t have the advantage of finishing at the Country Club [of Terre Haute] this time.
“I think I’m mostly looking to have a good time playing some competition and hopefully play some decent golf while I’m at it. As far as [other top] contenders, I’m not sure who all is playing this year. But I’m playing the first weekend with Doug McDonald and I know he’s been playing well and is probably going to be a strong candidate.
“Frankly, there are so many who could do it with a few good rounds in the right places that if you can pick the winner, I want you to come to the casino with me and pick my roulette numbers [insert smiley face here]. Frankly, I’d be fine with finishing in the money in the first flight.”
Sanctioning the tournament is the WVGA.
