KCC Invitational, Since 1954

In 1952, Kalamazoo Country Club members Henry Kennedy, Dudley Cutler, George Zupanik and Larry Hallack were not invited to play in a two man golf tournament held at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids. KCC’s most tenured member, Harry Rapley, reports that, instead of hanging their heads in disappointment, they said, “Phooy to you! We will start our own tournament that will be bigger and better than yours!” Thus, the KCC Invitational was born.

In 1954, 64 players from Detroit, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Benton Harbor and Kalamazoo gathered for the inaugural KCC Invitational. That year, most of the 32 two man teams did not include a KCC member. It was important that the field included Chuck Kocsis, who was considered the premier amateur golfer in Michigan. Another early favorite was the duo of Brooks Godfrey and Jim Rock, who were state high school golf stars. Kocsis, who was paired with KCC member Tyler “Bud” Riggin (the man with the golden wedge), defeated Godfrey and Rock in an exciting final match that attracted a gallery of over 1,500.  <Read More>

List of Winners