73rd Annual KCC Invitational 2026 at Gull Lake Country Club
presented by Greenleaf Trust
Thursday July 16 - Saturday July 18, 2026 We are pleased to share that the 73rd Annual KCC Better Ball Invitational will be graciously hosted by Gull Lake Country Club while we build a course that will elevate the future of golf at KCC. |
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Matt Wells & Mark Blakefield win the 73rd annual KCC Invitational 2026 with a 3 & 2 victory over Andrew Ruthkoski & Ethan Tiller
Congratulations to our Champions, Matt Wells & Mark Blakefield, on an outstanding week of match play. The duo battled through a talented field to earn the title, marking Wells' second KCC Invitational championship.
Congratulations as well to our Championship Flight Runner-Ups, Ethan Tiller & Andrew Ruthkoski, on an impressive tournament run, and to our Greenleaf Trust Flight Champions, Erik Nelson & Bryce Wheeler, on an outstanding week of competition.
This year's Invitational marked a memorable chapter in tournament history as the championship was contested at Gull Lake Country Club while construction continues on KCC's new 18-hole championship course designed by Andrew Green. We look forward to welcoming the Invitational back home in 2027.
Thank you to all of this year's players, caddies, volunteers, sponsors, members, and our friends at Gull Lake Country Club for helping make another successful Invitational possible. We appreciate everyone who was part of this incredible week of competition and look forward to seeing you again next year!
Congratulations as well to our Championship Flight Runner-Ups, Ethan Tiller & Andrew Ruthkoski, on an impressive tournament run, and to our Greenleaf Trust Flight Champions, Erik Nelson & Bryce Wheeler, on an outstanding week of competition.
This year's Invitational marked a memorable chapter in tournament history as the championship was contested at Gull Lake Country Club while construction continues on KCC's new 18-hole championship course designed by Andrew Green. We look forward to welcoming the Invitational back home in 2027.
Thank you to all of this year's players, caddies, volunteers, sponsors, members, and our friends at Gull Lake Country Club for helping make another successful Invitational possible. We appreciate everyone who was part of this incredible week of competition and look forward to seeing you again next year!
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Get ready for another fantastic tournament. All the action begins on Wednesday with the Member-Contestant and continues on through the exciting Saturday finish.
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Legendary Moments on Tap
The KCC Invitational is a showcase for local talent, collegiate stars, and international golfers. Many of the players are on their way to professional golf careers. Enjoy live coverage and rebroadcasts everyday starting at 11:00am eastern time USA, until the final putt drops. Join Tom Sielatycki, Joe Spoerl, Chris Andrews, Mike Turley, Ryan Canfield, John Allen, Ken Hartley and the usual cast of characters and guests for entertaining commentary.
The Kalamazoo Country Club Better Ball Invitational Tournament is one of the most storied amateur golf tournaments with history dating back to the 1950’s. With its humble beginnings in 1954, the tournament has been taking place annually now for many decades. The Invitational pairs members, top collegiate & amateur players, and professional golf stars in a team match play format.
We are proud of this event and what it represents. The support from the KCC membership through the years has been critical to the tournament’s success with many generations of families competing as well as volunteering. The notable player list from past tournaments is lengthy and noteworthy including PGA Tour Players:
Davis Love III
Scott Langley
Bubba Dickerson
Steve Wheatcroft
Joel Dahmen
Camillo Villegas
Nico Echavarria
Andres Echavarria
Joey Garber
The event is much more than a golf tournament though. The Invitational involves the entire community as everyone in the area is invited to come spectate and watch the great matches that encompass this tournament. Families and children of all ages can be seen walking side by side with their favorite player each day, experiencing firsthand what it’s like to feel the ups and downs of competitive tournament golf. It is this experience that gives the Invitational a special feeling; one that creates a sense of excitement and suspense from the moment the first match tees off Thursday morning and continues until the final putt is sunk Saturday afternoon.
The KCC Better Ball Invitational utilizes a team best ball match-play format with all players playing at scratch. The event has 2 flights: Championship and Greenleaf, with all participants beginning in the Championship Flight and moving to Greenleaf Flight after a 1st round loss.
We are proud of this event and what it represents. The support from the KCC membership through the years has been critical to the tournament’s success with many generations of families competing as well as volunteering. The notable player list from past tournaments is lengthy and noteworthy including PGA Tour Players:
Davis Love III
Scott Langley
Bubba Dickerson
Steve Wheatcroft
Joel Dahmen
Camillo Villegas
Nico Echavarria
Andres Echavarria
Joey Garber
The event is much more than a golf tournament though. The Invitational involves the entire community as everyone in the area is invited to come spectate and watch the great matches that encompass this tournament. Families and children of all ages can be seen walking side by side with their favorite player each day, experiencing firsthand what it’s like to feel the ups and downs of competitive tournament golf. It is this experience that gives the Invitational a special feeling; one that creates a sense of excitement and suspense from the moment the first match tees off Thursday morning and continues until the final putt is sunk Saturday afternoon.
The KCC Better Ball Invitational utilizes a team best ball match-play format with all players playing at scratch. The event has 2 flights: Championship and Greenleaf, with all participants beginning in the Championship Flight and moving to Greenleaf Flight after a 1st round loss.
