Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Ryan Reeder of Fort Dodge putts in last year’s Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster Count Golf Tournament at Lakeside. Reeder won the men’s open division crown.

Ryan Reeder will be defending his men’s open division championship in the Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament beginning a week from today.

Given the annual depth of talent and short list of repeat winners, conventional wisdom says it won’t be easy.

Reeder will try to become just the sixth golfer to successfully go back-to-back in the 39-year history of the event.

Prior multi-time champions who have prevailed in consecutive summers include only Pat Wendell (1982 and ’83), Dave Sergeant (1990 and ’91), Cory Braunschweig (1997-99), Kevin Ault (2006-08) and Colin Pearson (2011-12).

The last six tourneys have produced different gold medalists in the men’s open bracket: Phil Ruth (2013), Ryan Kinseth (2014), Austin Morrow (2015), Lucas Peed (2016), Eddie Doyle (2017) and Reeder (2018).

On-line registration for the July 13 and 14 tournament, sponsored by The Messenger, is set up for all tournament participants this year at https://fdcc

2019citytournament1.golfgenius.com. Click on the “Register Now For 2019 City Tournament” tab on the bottom left-hand side of the page.

The men’s open and senior division fields are asked to visit Lakeside (515-576-6741) with questions, concerns or if help is needed signing up. The women should go to the Country Club (955-8551).

All Webster County residents and workers are eligible to participate in the event, which has attracted nearly 8,000 golfers since The Messenger obtained sponsorship in 1980.