Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: 2024 Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County golf tournament champions (left to right): Morgan Hanson (women’s open division), Dave Hanson (men’s legends), Eddie Doyle (men’s open) and Kevin Roberts (men’s senior) are pictured here with FD Ford owner Casey Johnson. Not pictured: Craig Patterson (men’s super senior).

Eddie Doyle knows his life is about to change forever for the better.

The pressure of winning a golf tournament will soon pale in comparison to the real-world responsibilities of being a first-time father. For now, though, Doyle is enjoying one final pre-parent summer on the course and making as many memories as possible in the process.

Doyle captured his third Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota Webster County men’s open division title last July, securing the title near dusk on a sweltering day at Lakeside Golf Course. The finish at the event, presented by The Messenger, was heavy on drama and Doyle — a 2014 St. Edmond graduate — came through in the clutch, delivering an eagle at the par-5 18th hole to clip fellow former champion Lucas Peed by a single stroke.

Doyle was joined by now two-time men’s senior winner Kevin Roberts. Super senior champ Craig Patterson struck gold for the first time, and Dave Hanson — the 2022 super senior titleist — became the first-ever legends division victor for players age 70 and older.

Doyle fought his way through a triple bogey earlier Sunday and erased a late deficit to Peed, who has three county crowns of his own. Peed, a former Gael standout himself as a 1992 St. Edmond graduate, was nursing a single-shot advantage with one hole remaining — the 45th and final of the weekend — during the championship nine.

Peed’s second shot into the 18th green came up just short, while Doyle stuck his approach shot to 14 feet with an 8-iron. Peed chipped to within a few feet of the hole, but Doyle drained his eagle putt, shifting the pressure onto Peed to make his birdie and force a playoff.

“My mindset was, ‘time to get ready for a playoff,'” Doyle said. “Lucas had been rolling it great all day. I figured we’d have to go to (either hole) 10 or 18 and decide it from there (the men’s open division hasn’t been decided by a playoff since 1996).”

Peed’s short putt lipped hard and spun out, though, giving Doyle the surprising regulation victory.

Doyle closed at 66-74-35–175, which was the lowest overall score of his three Webster County championships at four-under par total. Peed carded a 71-71-34–176.

Austin Morrow (72-73-33) and Cody Jaeschke (73-70-35) tied for third at one-under 178.

Doyle’s girlfriend, Morgan Border, is eight months pregnant. She rode in the cart with Doyle during the championship nine.

“This one means a little more because of the timing,” said Doyle, who previously won here in 2017 and 2022. “Having a daughter on the way and all of the thoughts and emotions with that, along with the due date being so close…

“It should make for a fun story to tell her some day.”

Like Doyle, Roberts prevailed by a single stroke. The 2020 Webster County senior champ flanked his 76 on Saturday at the Fort Dodge Country Club with an impressive five-under par 67 at Lakeside, then had a 37 in the championship nine to edge now three-time senior runner-up Kevin Conrad.

“It took everything I had to hold off Kevin (Conrad). He was like a blood hound out there,” Roberts said. “I’m just very thankful for the opportunity to play, and appreciative of businesses like Fort Dodge Ford and The Messenger for hosting an incredible event like this. It’s great that you see this kind of community support for a golf tournament that’s been around this long (over four decades).”

Hanson — the long-time owner of Hanson’s Custom Golf in both Gowrie and Fort Dodge now owned by his son, Ted — had rounds of 72 at the FDCC and 74 at Lakeside to prevail. Bob Schill was second.

“We’re really blessed to have this tournament at two terrific golf courses in our community,” Hanson said. “We had a good time, and it’s been a fun summer. At our age, in retirement, you get to do things like this.

“We spent years building trust and relationships with golfers (in the region) who have been very loyal to us (at Hanson’s Custom Golf), so obviously, this tournament means a lot with so many familiar names and faces.”

Patterson carded a 78 on Saturday, but fired a two-under 70 on Sunday to bring home his first county crown on the super senior side. Rick Pingel (77-74–151) was the runner-up.

The Full Swing Financial Planning of Fort Dodge closest to the pin winners on Saturday at the FDCC were Tony Lawler, Shane Lee, Ryan Reeder and Josh Runge.

This year’s tournament is shifting to a regional format. The two-day event is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, at the Fort Dodge Country Club and Lakeside Golf Courses.

Residents from a nine-county area — Webster, Humboldt, Calhoun, Pocahontas, Hamilton, Wright, Greene, Story and Boone — are now eligible to participate, strengthening both the quality and quantity of the nine championship fields.

The men’s divisions will crown winners in the open, senior (age 50-59), super senior (60-69) and legends (70-plus) brackets, with the women offering the same individual stroke play competitions as well as a two-player, 18-hole best shot on July 12 at the FDCC.

Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for each division.

Tee times will be set in nine-minute increments on the men’s side, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on July 12 at Lakeside. Women’s tee times start at 8 a.m. at the FDCC on the 12th.

Cost is $85 per player for the 36-hole, two-day tournament, or $40 per player for the women’s two-person best shot. Each player must either live or work in the designated nine-county area.

The championship nine for both the men’s open and senior divisions will be at approximately 5:30 p.m. on July 13 at the FDCC.

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

An online sign-up option will also be available and announced in the days to come.

All citizens who either live or work in the nine eligible counties 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).