Defending Flathead Beacon Pro-Scratch Invitational Golf Tournament champion Jimmy Mee described his second day of play at the annual Flathead Valley tournament with partner Kyle Weaver as a “stress-free round of golf.”
That is, until scores were tallied.
“We played really well today. We had no idea it was going to turn into a three-team playoff,” Mee told the Beacon.
After a single-round score of 68 on day one left them tied for eighth place on Monday, the Missoula team comprising Mee and Weaver shot a tournament-low 64 to bring them into contention for a second-straight title. Two Kalispell teams, Ryan Malby and Chuck Eble, and Marcus Geer and Kade Manther, had better first day showings but ended up in the same boat on Tuesday with a two-hole playoff to determine this year’s winner.
Weaver birdied on hole 10 and Mee made birdie on hole 18 to clinch the 2024 Beacon Pro-Scratch victory.
“We were hoping to play similar to last year, which we did in the end,” Mee said. “This is the best tournament of the year, hands down. There’s very few events like this where you get such a big group of great players together, and everyone is fun to play with. Ask anyone, it’s the most fun we have all year.”
The annual two-day tournament at Bigfork’s Eagle Bend Golf Club and Kalispell’s Northern Pines Golf Club concluded Tuesday with 64 golfers hitting the greens.
There was also a tie for fourth between Justin Dorr and Logan Lindholm, the 2019 Pro-Scratch champion, and David Owens and Bryce Reed.
Mee is originally from Libby, where he was a four-time all-state golfer for the Loggers. In addition to being an assistant golf professional at the Ranch Club in Missoula, Mee serves as the assistant coach for the University of Montana women’s golf program. He is also a five-time winner of the Montana Open, most recently in 2021.
The annual Beacon Pro-Scratch brings together some of the top professional and amateur golfers throughout Montana for a better-ball tournament. This year’s event drew 32 total teams and paid out more than $15,000.
16th Annual Flathead Beacon Pro-Scratch Invitational
Eagle Bend Golf Club/Northern Pines Golf Club
July 22-23
Jimmy Mee/Kyle Weaver, 68-64 — 132
Marcus Geer/Kade Manther, 64-68 — 132
Ryan Malby/Chuck Eble, 65-67 — 132
Logan Lindholm/Justin Dorr, 66-67 — 133
David Owens/Bryce Reed, 68-65 — 133
Scott Larson/Ross Gilbert, 68-66 — 134
Jeff Dooley/Jonny Cielak, 64-71 — 135
Luke Schlimgen/Ryder Connor, 67-68 — 135
Harrison Taylor/Brad Grattan, 66-69 — 135
Jacob Wilson/Scott Marsh, 69-67 — 136
Chad Carlson/Spencer Williams, 69-69 — 138
Tara Libert/Ken Bush, 70-68 — 138
Alex Clemens/Rick Reimers, 71-68 — 139
Ben Marsh/Jim Marsh, 71-68 — 139
Barrett McDonald/Woznesensky. Keith, 71-68 — 139
Casey Moen/Corey Baubault, 70-69 — 139
Jess Roper/Brad Holmgren, 69-70 — 139
Travis Wright/Gabe Witham, 71-68 — 139
John Halligan/Dan Maher, 72-69 — 141
Casey Keyser/Ryan Buls, 67-74 — 141
Geoff Buchanan/Robert Cline, 69-73 — 142
Mike Lyons/Brant Beaudry, 70-72 — 142
Andrew Binney/Brian Beach, 71-72 — 143
Patrick Clary/Joe Arriaga, 72-71 — 143
Cameron Milton/Maxwell Milton, 70-73 — 143
Colton Stodghill/Joe Potkonjak, 71-72 — 143
Tom Clary/David Sandler, 73-72 — 145
Jason Lethola/Max Rich, 71-74 — 145
Chris Nowlen/Matt Sheridan, 72-73 — 145
Lon Hinkle/Maury Povich, 74-72 — 146
Greg Morris/Dante Jimenez, 74-72 — 146
Dudley Beard/Ross Bartell, 71-76 — 147