Charles Miller Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open

2021 Bowtie Classic raises $33,000 for La Crosse schools

Presented by

Other Top Sponsors

Forest Hills provides a beautiful setting for the annual Bowtie Classic.

A spirited group of 108 golfers gathered Saturday, Sept. 4 at Forest Hills Golf Course for the ninth Charlie Miller Bowtie Classic Golf Outing and Knowledge Open. Beautiful weather and a fun day raised about $33,000 after expenses at the event that benefits the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.

Our 2021 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 at this year’s event by his wife, Susan, and daughter Jeanie Everson, along with Jeanie’s husband Fred. 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:

First place at the 2021 Bowtie Classic went to the foursome including, from left, Lee Keim, Emily Keim, Keagon Drugan and Joe Hightower. They had a combined golf and Knowledge Open quiz score of 41 and won $500 for North Woods International School.

The second place team at the Bowtie Classic featured, from left, Zach Nickelatti, Mark Miller, Ben Korger and Will Hundt. They had a combined golf and Knowledge Open score of 44, and won $250 for Summit Environmental School.

Third place at the Bowtie Classic went to a team playing for Logan High School and featuring, from left, Principal Wally Gnewikow Jr., Matt Marohl, Kurt Baumgarten and former Principal Scott Mihalovic. Their combined golf and Knowledge Open score was 45 — but they won a tie-breaker with another team by correctly answering 14 quiz questions. They won $125 for Logan High School.

The last place team at the Bowtie Classic featured, from left, Michelle Powell, Derek Fuglsang, Brian Skiles and Chris Stevens. By finishing last, they won a $125 grant for Southern Bluffs Elementary School, where Michelle is a teacher.

Photos of the foursomes are courtesy of Kelly Galvan

The 2021 Bowtie Classic was presented by Coulee Region Mechanical.

Susan Miller and her daughter Jeanie, along with Jeanie’s husband Fred, helped with the fundraising by running a 50-50 Chip Shot Contest.

Other major sponsors included: Festival Foods, Marine Credit Union, Altra Financial Advisors, Bray Architects, Complete Control, Dalco, DeBoer Pest Control, Five Star Telecom, HSR Associates, La Crosse Tribune, LHI, Market & Johnson, Mathy Construction, Verkada, and Waste Management.

One lucky golfer had the opportunity to win $25,000 toward the purchase of a new Toyota (courtesy of Toyota of La Crosse) by hitting a hole in one on Hole No. 7 during the event. Unfortunately, no one succeeded.

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. Susan and Jeanie, along with Jeanie’s husband Fred Everson, were on hand for the event.

Four for Fore Hole Sponsors (each sponsored four holes)

Coulee Bank
Go Riteway
Kwik Trip
McCabe Roofing
Thompson Animal Medical Center
US Bank
Xcel Energy

Quiz Sponsors

Akita Box
The Board Store
La Crosse Glass
Ron Hammes Refrigeration
Tri-State Carpets
These major sponsors also received recognition as Quiz Sponsors: Coulee Region Mechanical, Festival Foods, Marine Credit Union, Altra Financial Advisors, Bray Architects, Complete Control, Dalco, DeBoer Pest Control, Five Star Telecom, HSR Associates, La Crosse Tribune, LHI, Market & Johnson, Mathy Construction, Verkada, and Waste Management.

Bowtie Classic Raffle

More than 1,100 tickets were sold for chances in the Bowtie Classic raffle, which featured 24 prizes.

Raffle sponsors were: Ace Hardware, Fleis Insurance, Forest Hills Golf Course, Kendell Doors, Pogy’s Catering, and Trust Point.

Thanks to the following for donating prizes: Aaron Engel, Troy Harcey, Tom Thompson and David Stoeffler; Fleis Insurance; Green Bay Packers; Forest Hills Golf Course; Kendell Doors; Trust Point; Mueller Photography; Johns, Flaherty & Collins; La Crosse Center; Pogy’s Catering and Ye Old Style Inn; Ace Hardware Support Center; La Crosse Distilling Co.; Lee Rasch; Logan High School; Minnesota Vikings; Julie Nelson.

Hole contest prizes provided by: Pogreba; Pettibone Boat Club; Courtesy Corp/McDonald’s.

Bowtie Classic Co-Chairmen: Troy Harcey and Joe Ledvina. Planning committee: Jerry Kember, Ken French, Scott Mihalovic, Heidi Odegaard, Keith Stoll, David Stoeffler.

Event volunteers: Margaret Dihlmann-Malzer, Jeanie and Fred Everson, Kelly Galvan, Dawn Hemker, Byron Holz, Anna and Graham Goldbeck, Heidi Odegaard, Tom Thompson.

Click below for reports and photos from prior Bowtie Classics:

2012 Bowtie Classic photo gallery