Excerpted from Wisconsin Golf, Summer 1991
written by Jerry Poling, Edited and Updated Jan. 2001 by Bill Rolland

If you know something about Wisconsin golf, the names Don Iverson, Andy North, Greg Dick, Dick Bull, and Larry Tiziani should be familiar to you. Their places in state golfing history are secure. Yet all these players are linked together by more than recognition at the state level. They are part of a unique golfing fraternity of sorts. They are all former star players in the Chippewa Valley Golf Association (CVGA). Now in its 43rd year, the CVGA is made up of West Central Wisconsin clubs that put on a series of open tournaments from May through September.

Some of the best amateurs and pros from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and other states annually follow the CVGA tour because of its solid competition. They have done so week after week, year after year since 1958. The prize money ranges from $200 to $1000 for first place.

 

The CVGA is like a mini tour. "It's unique in the state.", says Tony Coleman, a native of Chippewa Falls, who is the former executive director of the Wisconsin P.G.A.. "The CVGA helped me develop my competitive edge and it lead me to a career in golf." Jim Julsrud, Professional at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club, stated that anywhere from 10-20 CVGA entrants each week are state level players. "I think the level of play is real good. There are an awful lot of fine players that come out of the CVGA and do well in state competition."

Don Iverson, the LaCrosse , WI native who had a successful career on the P.G.A. tour, won that 1965 CVGA Tournament of Champions at Bloomer, WI as a youngster. Andy North, of Wisconsin, winner of two US Opens, once played in the Hallie Open finishing 4th, where his father is still the teaching pro. Larry Tiziani played the CVGA in the early 1970's while attending the University of Minnesota, winning the 1973 CVGA Tournament of Champions.

The list of CVGA stars that distinguish themselves on the state level doesn't stop there. Eau Claire native, Greg Dick, Grew up in the CVGA and went on to win the State Amateur (1980) and the State Open (1984). He is the Director of Golf and co-owner of the Tanglewood Resort in Potsboro, TX. Dr. Dave Farley, Formerly of River Falls, WI, played the CVGA in 1983 and also won the W.S.G.A Match Play in 1981. Former Chippewa Falls Elks Club Pro, Roy Abermeit, was the hottest golfer in the state in 1979 when he won the P.G.A. Match Play, the P.G.A. Medal Play and the CVGA Player of the Year. He also won the State Open in 1980.

The CVGA has seen many of the state's top names, going back even to Tom Puls, the 1962 State Open Champion, who still is a top competitor in the CVGA.

In recent years, players such as 3 time winner of the Tournament of Champions, Leif Carlson, and Greg Murphy and George Smith, past winners of the Tournament of Champions are all from Minnesota. They play regularly and look forward to another competitive CVGA season every year.

The CVGA's roots date back to the 1930's but was born as a formal organization on May 15, 1958 by Bill Rolland, then head pro at the Elks Club in Chippewa Falls, WI. Eight pros and owners were called together by Rolland to create and organize a tournament schedule so conflicts would not happen between golf courses. Members at the meeting were Art Tangen of Hallie, Abby Fehr of Hillcrest, Gordy Hetzel of Bloomer, Jack Richards of Ladysmith, Pete Witkowski Sr. of Chetek, Bill Amthor of Menomonie, and George Fautch of Eau Claire Golf and Country Club. Out of that meeting a sound foundation was formed for tournament golf. In 1961, while a Professional at Hillcrest Country Club in Eau Claire, Bill Rolland founded the CVGA Tournament of Champions. This tournament is an invitational tournament that culminates the CVGA season. Rolland has been the CVGA Secretary and Tournament Director ever since and has been credited with the longevity of the organization.

Rolland states that many people have contributed their time and talent to the CVGA. The late Art Tangen, longtime pro at Hallie, put together a point system in 1975 which is used today to select our Player of the Year. Frank Keyes, longtime CVGA President and owner of Whispering Pines Golf Course in Cadott, WI has put many hours into CVGA meetings. What makes the CVGA a strong organization is the generosity of each golf club and their pros that give up their courses on weekends during the summer to help promote tournament golf. Rolland also noted that offering tournament golf to our juniors and flite players provides our championship flight with players in the future.

Bill Rolland would like to personally thank all of the officers of the CVGA for their time and efforts and a special thank you to Bill Wachtendonk for his work in creating this website that keeps us all up to date!