Due to the support of Midwest Fuels and other major sponsors, the 2015 Charlie Miller Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open was a tremendous success, producing nearly $22,000 in net proceeds to support classroom grants and other programs of the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.

In addition, teams won another $1,500 in direct grants to individual schools in the School District of La Crosse.

Despite ongoing construction at Forest Hills Golf Course, the event on Sept. 5, 2015, drew about 75 golfers, plus about 20 students asking Knowledge Open questions and providing a reminder that the event is all about enhancing education.

The golf outing — held for the third time — honors the late Dr. Charles Miller III, a foundation co-founder and a longtime member of the Board of Education for the School District of La Crosse. Dr. Miller was a surgeon at what is now Gundersen Health System. He died unexpectedly while playing racquetball in May 2011.

Susan Miller, wife of the late Dr. Miller, as well as their daughter Jeanie Everson and family, were on hand to join the festivities and also help sponsor the event.

Teams compete not just on golf skills in the scramble format. The event includes a unique feature: the Knowledge Open Challenge. At various holes on the course, questions are asked by National Honor Society students. Each event foursome, as a team, answers the questions during its round of play. Teams’ final scores are based on their golf game as well as their performance on the quiz.

Featured in the photo above: Winning first place, with a final score of 34, was the team of Ben Fowler, Brad Fowler, Tom Londergan and Scott Straker. They won a grant of $500 for Logan High School.

For more information and photos, see our complete Bowtie Classic section.