Golf: Chick-A-Tee Invitational features top golfers

SPRINGDALE -- On a weekend when the top golfers in the world descend upon Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania for the U.S. Open, many of the top golfers in the region will head to Springdale Country Club for one of the most storied tournaments in Northwest Arkansas.

The 78th Dwight Collins Chick-A-Tee Invitational, named in honor of the late Collins, a former Springdale Country Club golf professional, is back in its traditional Father's Day weekend spot. With a field of 113 players that includes eight past champions, the competition at this year's event should be as good as ever.

"We've got a solid championship flight this year," said Roy Hobbs, current Springdale Country Club golf professional. "We're looking forward to a great tournament."

Josh Farrell, a former Arkansas Razorback golfer, won his first Chick-A-Tee championship last year with a four-stroke victory over previous winners Steven Dixon and Icem Brewer. Farrell is back in the field this year to defend his title and was part of a unique aspect of the Chick-A-Tee: the champions' dinner, held Thursday, the night before the tournament kicked off.

"We bring all of our champions back for our champions' dinner," Hobbs said. "That's something most other tournaments don't have, and most of our champions make it back for that."

The Chick-A-Tee is a 54-hole stroke play tournament, which was originally known as the Rodeo of the Ozarks Springdale Open before being renamed the Chick-A-Tee. Players use a shotgun-style format, teeing off at both 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. today through Sunday. Following the first 36 holes, the tournament will be flighted for Sunday's final 18-hole round.

"We've got golfers from as far away as Houston this year," Hobbs said. "It should be a lot of fun."

Sports on 06/17/2016