Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Cole Jaeschke will try to win a second straight men’s open division title this season.

For quite some time, repeat winners were relatively common in the men’s open division of the Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament.

Dave Sergeant became the first champion to defend his title in 1991. Cory Braunschweig did the same in both 1998 and ’99.

Kevin Ault reeled off five straight victories from 2006-10. Colin Pearson then followed up Ault’s run with golds in both 2011 and ’12.

From 2013 on, though, no player has been able to successfully go back-to-back.

Austin Morrow, Eddie Doyle and Ryan Reeder have multiple championships during that period of time, but none have come in consecutive fashion. This year, Cole Jaeschke will be trying to defend his crown.

We are now days away from this year’s event. Players are asked to sign up for the 44th annual event by this Wednesday.

The tournament begins on Saturday and concludes on Sunday.

Groups are asked to sign up either by phone or in person at their respective designated courses. Players must pre-pay.

For the first time, a “Legends” Division is being offered on both the men’s and women’s side for players age 70 and older. This will flank the traditional open, senior (age 50-59) and super senior (age 60-69) championship brackets for individual 36-hole stroke play at the Fort Dodge Country Club and Lakeside Golf Courses.

The women’s competition will also feature a new two-person best shot on Saturday at Lakeside. This is an alternative to the individual bracket, which is still being offered. Players would choose which event — the 36-hole individual tournament or the 18-hole best shot tourney — to enter beforehand.

Full Swing Financial Planning of Fort Dodge is sponsoring this year’s closest to the pin contest, which takes place on Saturday. There will be $100 winners at each of the par-3s at the respective courses.

Tee times are in nine-minute increments on the men’s side, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the FDCC. The women start at 8 a.m. at Lakeside on Saturday.

Cost is $85 per player for the 36-hole, two-day tournament, or $40 per player for the women’s two-person best shot.

The championship nine for both the men’s open and senior divisions will be at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at Lakeside.

All citizens who either live or work in Webster County are invited to participate.

For more information or to sign up for the tournament, please call the FDCC (515-955-8551) or Lakeside (515-576-6741).