2020 Bowtie Classic raises $29,000 for La Crosse schools
Presented by
Other major sponsors
LPEF’s Dawn Hemker, left, and Kelly Galvan from the School District of La Crosse, greeted and checked in golfers at the Bowtie Classic.
About 100 golfers gathered — social-distance style — on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Forest Hills Golf Course for the eighth Charlie Miller Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open. Beautiful weather and a fun day raised about $29,000 after expenses at the event that benefits the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.
Our 2020 presenting sponsor was Coulee Region Mechanical Contractors, which provides plumbing, heating and cooling equipment and services for the School District of La Crosse.
Dr. Charles Miller III
The Bowtie Classic recognizes and honors Dr. Charles Miller III, a co-founder of LPEF and a longtime member of the Board of Education in La Crosse. Dr. Miller was a surgeon at Gundersen Health System. He died unexpectedly while playing racquetball in May 2011. His family was represented again at this year’s event by daughter Jeanie Everson. The Miller family also provides sponsorship support for the event.
Teams compete not just on golf skills in the scramble format. The event includes a unique feature: the Knowledge Open Challenge. Due to social distancing guidelines, this year adult volunteers asked questions at two holes during the event. 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.
Teams play for the benefit of schools in the School District of La Crosse, with the first-place team winning a $500 grant for a school. Second prize was $250. Third prize was $125 and the highest-scoring team also won $125 for a school.
Here are the winning foursomes:
Jason Bahr, John Bahr, Rudy Young and Jac Coyne won 1st place and $500 for Lincoln Middle School.
Jim DeBoer, Dan Wilson, Scott Ott and Jack Litsheim, representing DeBoer Pest Control, finished second and won $250 for Logan Middle School.
Tyler Jessie, Adam Jessie, Jared Kast and Landon Brownell finished third and won $125 for Hamilton Elementary School.
Principal Lisa Schreiner, Barb Kelley, Michelle Powell and Denise Shedivy took last place and won $125 for Southern Bluffs Elementary School.
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- Jeanie Everson, daughter of Dr. Charles Miller III, was on hand to once again run the 50-50 Chip Shot Contest, which was won by Tyler Jessie. Tyler donated his winnings back to LPEF.
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- Golfer Lad Doolittle purchases raffle tickets from LPEF Board Members Tom Thompson and Heidi Odegaard.
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- Our presenting sponsor was Coulee Region Mechanical Contractors.
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- Associate Superintendent Troy Harcey, Retired Superintendent Randy Nelson, Principal Troy McDonald, Associate Principal Jeff Axness; they played on behalf of Central High School
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- Alex Powell, Greg Rediske, Mark Woodall, Aaron Aspenson played for Festival Foods
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- Principal Ben Burns, John Arnost, Jourdan Stacey, Mike Lawrence played on behalf of Hamilton-SOTA I
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- Bill and Bonnie Sacia, Chris Haskell and Bob Carney played for Marine Credit Union
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- Greg Balfany, Rob Tyser, Chris Palmer
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- Clint Selle, Jerry Ball, Joe Ledvina, Ryan Ledvina played for Bray Architects and Dalco
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- Principal Dirk Hunter, Phil Gredler, Carl Shedivy, Bill Hoel played on behalf of Summit Environmental School
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- Evan Lamb, Mike Duncan and Steve Berg played for Festival Foods (missing from photo is Adam Wershofen)
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- Janice Seeger, Jerry Seeger, Sara Blanton, KJ Blanton played on behalf of Spence Elementary
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- Jeremey Kendall, Matt Lehmann, Mike Olson, Dan Howe played for Presenting Sponsor Coulee Region Mechanical
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- John Lochner, Larry Peterson, Mike Baker, Travis Winchester played for GO Riteway
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- Ken French, Rich Bean, Lad Doolittle, Woody Weidenhoeft
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- Mark Lakmann, Dave Kies, Jacob Klingbeil, John Eide
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- Michael Garves, Jason Vaughn, Mike Gargaro, Karl Johnson played for Coulee Bank
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- Mike Stange, Lee Keim, Emily Keim, Don Lounsbrough played for Dalco
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- Paul Pehler, Caleb Anderson, Al Swift, Bryan Ufheil played for the La Crosse Tribune
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- Roger Christians, Lee Rasch, Steven Porter, Jim Dillenbeck
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- Scott Johnson, Mike Freybler, Matt Koby, Joe Olinger
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- Sydney Hulbert, Susan Hulbert, Steven Hulbert, Noah Tran played for Northside-Coulee Montessori
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- Taylor Hamilton, Drew Bakkestuen, Chris Schroeder, Ryan Wolle played for Presenting Sponsor Coulee Region Mechanical
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- Principal Wally Gnewikow Jr, Matt Marohl, Kurt Baumgarten, Casey Knoble played for Logan High School
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- Thanks to our generous sponsors!
Photos of the foursomes are courtesy of Kelly Galvan
The 2020 Bowtie Classic was presented by Coulee Region Mechanical.
Other major sponsors included: Festival Foods, Bray Architects, Complete Control, Coulee Bank, Dalco, DeBoer Pest Control, La Crosse Tribune, Lifetouch, Marine Credit Union and Trust Point.
One lucky golfer had the opportunity to win a new 2021 Toyota Corolla LE (courtesy of Toyota of La Crosse) by hitting a hole in one on Hole No. 7 during the event.
A special thank you to the family of Dr. Charles Miller III, including Susan Miller, Jeanie Everson, Charlie Miller IV and Heather Marie Miller and their families for continuing support for LPEF and the Bowtie Classic.
Four for Fore Hole Sponsors (each sponsored four holes)
- Altra Federal Credit Union
- GECU The Friendly Credit Union
- HSR Associates
- McCabe Roofing
- Thompson Animal Medical Center
- US Bank
- Waste Management
- Xcel Energy
Quiz Sponsors
- La Crosse Glass
- Mathy Construction
- S&S Cycle
- Tri-State Carpets
- These major sponsors also received recognition as Quiz Sponsors: Bray Architects, Complete Control, Coulee Bank, Coulee Region Mechanical, Dalco, DeBoer Pest Control, Festival Foods, Lifetouch, Marine Credit Union, and Trust Point.
Other Hole Sponsors
- Dr. Aaron Engel
- Ken French
- Mark Glendenning/Margie Webster
- Troy & Megan Harcey
- Jerry & Nan Kember
- Jeff Meyer
- Randy & Lynn Nelson
- Tim Padesky & Tara Johnson
- Barb Schultz
- Tom & Judy Sleik
- Judy Swantz
- Tom & Jean Thompson
- Kathie & Rob Tyser
- Ronald Bast
- Benefit Plan Administrators/3PAdministrators
- The Board Store
- Brickl Brothers
- Citizens State Bank
- EO Johnson
- Firefighters Credit Union
- Five Star Telecom
- Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp & Sleik
- Klich Electric
- La Crosse Area Retired Educators’ Association
- La Crosse Education Association
- Prairie Farms Dairy
- Skyward (2)
- Strang Patteson Renning Lewis & Lacy
- USI Insurance
- UW-L Foundation
Bowtie Classic Raffle
More than 1,300 tickets were sold for chances in the Bowtie Classic raffle, which featured 27 prizes. Click here for a complete list of prizes and winning tickets.
Raffle sponsors were: Forest Hills Golf Course, Trust Point and WKBT News 8.
Thanks to the following for donating prizes: Forest Hills Golf Course; Trust Point; WKBT News 8; Central High School; Logan High School; The Arterial; The Charmant; Dr. Aaron Engel; Green Bay Packers; Brandon Prinsen of Johns, Flaherty & Collins; Kwik Trip; Greg and Patty Martin; Cari Mathwig Ramseier; Minnesota Twins; Minnesota Vikings; Rochelle Nicks; Norskedalen; Anna Prinsen; Radisson Hotel; David Stoeffler; Tom Thompson; and Xcel Energy.
Hole contest prizes provided by: CannaBiz Depot; Dublin Square; Northland Golf and Ski; Byron Holz; and David Stoeffler.
Bowtie Classic Chairman: Randy Nelson, retired superintendent of schools. Planning committee: Jerry Kember, Ken French, Troy Harcey, Joe Ledvina, Heidi Odegaard, Keith Stoll, David Stoeffler.
Event volunteers: Margaret Dihlmann-Malzer, Jeanie Everson, Kelly Galvan, Dawn Hemker, Byron Holz, Julie Nelson, Heidi Odegaard, Tom Thompson, Kathie Tyser.
Click below for reports and photos from prior Bowtie Classics: