Register now for the 2019 Bowtie Classic

Sign up by July 31 for early-bird rate — Download 2019 registration form

Presented by

DATE: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019

TIME: Registration at 8 a.m.; Shotgun start at 9 a.m.; Lunch to follow

LOCATION: Forest Hills Golf Course

COST: $80 per golfer (price increases to $100 each after July 31)

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback, provided courtesy of Toyota of La Crosse

One lucky golfer could win an all-new 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback by hitting a hole-in-one, courtesy of Toyota of La Crosse. Other prizes available for competitions on various holes on the course, plus raffles and other fun activities — with all the proceeds going to benefit La Crosse public schools.

Golfers at the Bowtie Classic enjoy a signature feature: the Knowledge Open Challenge. At each teebox, 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. Join the fun on Aug. 31 — register now!

More than $31,000 raised for La Crosse public schools at 2018 Bowtie Classic

Presented by

Other major sponsors

After a delay due to early morning rain, the 2018 Bowtie Classic teed off with 112 golfers — a record number — on what turned into a beautiful day for golf.

A record number of golfers helped turn the sixth Charlie Miller Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open into a record fundraiser for the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. More than $31,000 was raised after expenses as 112 golfers teed off on Saturday, Sept. 1 despite a start that was delayed two hours by early morning rain.

Our 2018 presenting sponsor was Dalco, a leading source of cleaning supplies for the School District of La Crosse.

Dr. Charles Miller III

Jeanie Everson, daughter of Dr. Charles Miller III, and her husband Fred ran a chip-shot contest as part of the 2018 Bowtie Classic.

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 provides sponsorship money to allow student teams to golf in the Bowtie Classic.

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.

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. Awards were sponsored by Waste Management, which also provided support to discount registration fees for school teams, and for a student foursome.

A foursome from Lincoln Middle School won for the second consecutive year, winning $500 for their school. Second-place and third-place teams were both playing on behalf of North Woods International Elementary School, winning $375 for the school. The last-place team was from Southern Bluffs Elementary School, winning $125.

Here are the winning foursomes:

1st place foursome of Eric Check, Travis Check, Chester Janke and Adam Peterson – won $500 for Lincoln Middle School.

2nd place foursome of Brent Wilkerson, Todd Peterson, Colin Peterson and Kevin Hooper – won $250 for North Woods International School.

3rd place team of Rob Tyser, Randy Paine, Mike DeYoe and Greg Balfany (not pictured) – won $125 for North Woods International.

Last place team of Lisa Schreiner, Derek Fuglsang, Michelle Powell and Denise Shedivy – won $125 for Southern Bluffs Elementary.

: Troy McDonald, Jeff Axness, Associate Superintendent Troy Harcey and Superintendent Randy Nelson

: Ryan Ledvina, Rod Dummer, Joe Ledvina and Jerry Ball. Rod and Jerry represented Dalco, the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Bowtie Classic.

: Ken French, Rich Bean, Lad Doolittle and Woody Weidenhoeft

: KJ Blanton, Sara Blanton, Janice Seeger and Jerry Seeger

: Wally Gnewikow Jr., Kurt Baumgarten, Matt Marohl and Scott Mihalovic

: Jake Beran, Mike Villarosa, Kimberly Lee and Scott Gerzsik

: Gary Gamoke, Scott Ott, Roger Benson and Tom Lewandowski

: Mike Garves, Jason Vaughn, Adam Jessie and Tyler Jessie.

: Sydney Hulbert, Susan Hulbert, Steven Hulbert and Kirk Friedline.

: Al Swift, Jim Klarr and Chris Knott.

: Nick LaFleur, Cole Parins and Noah Hogum.

: Seth Deuman, Wade Fox, Ben Faas and Tyler Young.

: Ben Burns, John Arnost, Sara Rugg and Jourdan Stacey.

: Matt Lehman, Mike Olson, Jeremy Kendall and Dan Howe.

: Bill Bittner, Dan Wilson, Don DeBoer and Jeff Greene.

: Chris Schroeder, Taylor Hamilton, Drew Bakkestuen and Tyler Harris.

: Dave Farrow, Michael Maxwell, Adam Keer and Curt Greeno.

: Evan Lamb, Cletus Hoehn, Matt Haese and Adam Wershofen.

: Carl Shedivy, Phil Gredler, Dirk Hunter and Bill Hoel.

: Alex Powell, Andy Mills, Mark Duncan and Dick Zierke.

: Don Lounsbrough, Don Colburn, Mike Stange and Andy Pradovic.

: Christopher Donahue and Kaleb Lycke.

: Dean Lounsbrough, Terry Theines, Jim Geary and Randy Blank.

: Tim Donahue, Frank Lockart, Terry Hubert, Chris Mankes.

: Lee Keim, Emily Keim, Tom Grapes and Rich Wagner.

: Central High students Avalon Miller and Helena Wehrs pose a quiz question to Central High Principal Troy McDonald and Superintendent Randy Nelson. (They correctly answered the question.)

: Logan High Principal Wally Gnewikow Jr. putts.

: Caitlin Coffey poses a Knowledge Open quiz question.

: Logan High student Ella with LPEF Treasurer Tammy Larson, Esther Everson and former Superintendent Jerry Kember.

: Lad Doolittle, Woody Weidenhoeft and Rich Bean ponder a quiz question.

Photos of the foursomes are courtesy of Julie Nelson.

The 2018 Bowtie Classic was presented by Dalco.

Other major sponsors included: Marine Credit Union, Festival Foods, Waste Management, Coulee Region Mechanical, LHI and the Weber Family Foundation, Coulee Bank, Mathy Construction, Complete Control, DeBoer Pest Control, GO Riteway, HSR Associates, Lifetouch, and the La Crosse Tribune.

Toyota of La Crosse provided a car that players had a chance to win on the 7th hole with a hole-in-one. Unfortunately, no one holed their tee shot.

One lucky golfer had the opportunity to win a new 2018 Toyota Camry 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, Chuck Miller IV and Heather Marie Miller and their families for continuing support and sponsoring student golfers at today’s event

Four for Fore Hole Sponsors (each sponsored four holes)

Kaplan Professional Education
McCabe Roofing
Thompson Animal Medical Center

Quiz Sponsors

GECU, the Friendly Credit Union
Five Star Telecom
Gundersen Health System
Masters Building Solutions
These major sponsors also received recognition as Quiz Sponsors: Dalco, Marine Credit Union, Festival Foods, Waste Management, Coulee Region Mechanical, LHI, Coulee Bank, Mathy Construction, Complete Control, DeBoer Pest Control, GO Riteway, HSR Associates, Lifetouch, and Toyota of La Crosse.

Raffle prizes: Forest Hills Golf Course; Pischke Motors; Kendell Doors; DALCO; Brandon Prinsen of Johns, Flaherty & Collins; Logan and Central high school activities departments; Fred Kusch; Troy McDonald; Scott Mihalovic; Angi Strangman; Randy and Lynn Nelson; Jay and Barb Nick; Green Bay Packers; Minnesota Twins; Minnesota Vikings; Midwest TV & Appliance

Hole contest prizes provided by: David Reay’s; Dublin Square; Famous Dave’s; Java Vino; Northland Golf; Optical Fashions; Outback Steakhouse; Schmidty’s; 4 Sisters; and Tammy Larson

Water provided by: Gillette Pepsi-Cola Bottling of La Crosse; and Cari Mathwig Ramseier

Special thanks to Central and Logan National Honor Society students for helping with the Knowledge Open.

Bowtie Classic Chairman: Superintendent Randy Nelson. Planning committee: Dick Swantz, Jerry Kember, Ken French, Joe Ledvina, Tammy Larson, Shawn Dutchin, Keith Stoll, Steve Hole, Fred Kusch, David Stoeffler

Click below for reports and photos from prior Bowtie Classics:

2012 Bowtie Classic photo gallery