Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: 2022 Webster County golf champions (left to right) Eddie Doyle, Roxanne Kuhlman, Kathy Fortune, Dave Hanson and Phil Ruth stand with Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota owner Casey Johnson stand together after last year’s tournament. Not pictured: women’s open division winner Delaney Conrad.

Eddie Doyle returned to a familiar perch atop the men’s open division landscape with a championship performance at the 43rd Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament, presented by The Messenger.

The 26-year-old Doyle was joined by a pair of first-timers: previous open king Phil Ruth, who broke through in the senior bracket, and super senior titleist Dave Hanson, a familiar name on the area golf scene but a newcomer to the winner’s circle in this particular event.

Doyle carded a steady two-under par 34 on the championship back nine Sunday at Lakeside to catch and pass defending champ Austin Morrow, who ended up tied for silver-medalist honors with Kole Petersen. It’s the second crown for Doyle, a 2014 St. Edmond graduate who also prevailed on the open side five years ago.

“It feels great (to win again),” said Doyle, who ended up a two-under par for the 45-hole event. “It’s been a few years, and this is always a tough one to get, especially after playing a lot (competitively) in June (every summer) where you kind of have to find your second wind and be on your game here.

“It wasn’t easy with a cross wind picking up (in the afternoon and evening hours). It led to some tricky putts, and it was hard to gauge some approach shots (to the green). But I drove the ball well on the final nine and made the putts when I had to. I reminded myself we were all facing the same conditions (down the stretch) and I had to grind my way through it. Do what I could and focus on playing my game.”

Doyle had an even-par 71 on Saturday at the Fort Dodge Country Club, then stayed at level with a 72 early Sunday at Lakeside. He had to track down Morrow (68), Petersen (70) and Cole Jaeschke (70), who ended up tied for fourth with his brother, Cody.

Morrow, the 2019 and 2021 winner, still held a slim advantage over Doyle (one stroke), Cole Jaeschke (two) and Petersen (four) with the back side still to come late Sunday afternoon.

“You can’t play defense in golf,” said Doyle, a former first team all-state golfer with the Gaels who ran the clubhouse at the FDCC before moving to Florida and then back to Fort Dodge for a job with Central Financial Group. “Sometimes you shoot well and it goes in your favor. When you’re going up against a field like this one, you just post the score you can and hope it holds up.

“I always feel like I’m pretty good with a wedge in my hands from 100 yards on in. I did a lot of things well (this weekend), and fortunately, it all added up.”

Ruth was the 2013 gold medalist in the open competition. On Sunday, he closed the door on the senior field with a one-under 35 in the championship round, pulling away for a five-stroke triumph over Steve Schmidt and Kevin Conrad at two-over par 181.

“I would say I was steady more than anything else,” said Ruth, who works at Lakeside. “I haven’t been playing a lot of competitive golf this year, but I drove the ball well and my short game was solid.

“I had birdies at 11 and 13 and another one at 18, which was nice. I just tried to stay patient and let the chips fall where they may.”

Ruth added, “the courses were in excellent shape like always. A lot goes into (preparation work) for this tournament behind the scenes, and (the field) really appreciates having both (the FDCC and Lakeside) ready like this. It’s always a fun time and a terrific event.”

The 68-year-old Hanson had a four-over par 75 on Saturday at the Country Club, then flanked that with a one-over 73 at Lakeside. He topped six-time senior gold medalist Terry Miller (74-76–150) by two shots on the super senior leaderboard.

“This is great,” said Hanson, who owned Hanson’s Custom Golf for years in Gowrie before taking over Golf Central at the Boston Center where his son, Ted, is now the owner. “It’s fun to be here, where I’ve been playing rounds for 50 years and in the golf business for the last 15. This is a special moment for me.

“The key is just to take things shot by shot and not get too far ahead of yourself. It’s pretty easy to get on that bogey train, but tough to get off.”

Messenger publisher Terry Christensen stated that the two-day tournament is successful because of “a lot of hard work and leadership” in Fort Dodge.

“I would like to thank the Johnsons (at Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota) for their continued support of the Webster County golf tournament. To continue this event for 43 years now only happens with the support of (co-owners) Casey, Matt and their family.

“I would also like to thank the staff at Lakeside and the Country Club. Both were in spectacular condition. Fort Dodge is very fortunate to have such wonderful courses for the tournament field every year.”

This year’s two-day event will be Saturday, July 8, and Sunday, July 9. All citizens who either live or work in Webster County are invited to participate.

Tee times are being accepted now. The men’s open, senior (50 and older) and super senior (65 and older) divisions are asked to sign up by July 5 at Lakeside Golf Course, where the first round will take place. The women’s open, senior and super senior competitors will register at the Fort Dodge Country Club.

Tee times will be set in nine-minute increments on the men’s side, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at Lakeside. Women’s tee times start at 8 a.m.

Groups are asked to sign up either by phone or in person at their respective designated courses as soon as possible.

For more information or to sign up, please call the FDCC (955-8551) or Lakeside (576-6741).