The 5 Points Bank Metro Golf Championship enters its 14th year and will be held at Bent Tree Golf Club on August 13-14. The Metro which has been coined the “City Championship” is only for players that live in Sarpy, Douglas and Pottawattamie counties.

The tournament provides five flights for golfers of all abilities. The flights have been named after the courses that have held the event over the past 141 years, Platteview, Bent Tree and Willow Lakes.

The METRO is tournament golf with tournament rules. It is common to see Nebraska Golf Association rules officials on the golf course to monitor play and keep it moving. “We try to make the Metro as much like a professional tournament as possible. Some players have never experienced that and it’s just another amenity that makes the METRO a special event” said Shillinglaw.

The Championship Pool looks as strong as ever including 2010 and 2009 champion, Ryan Nietfeldt and past champions Patrick Duffy (2008, 2007, 2005, 2004), Jay Muller (2006), Al Dusek (2003) , Trent Morisson (2002), Dave Shillinglaw ( 2001) Pete Godwin (2000), and Ed (Moose) Person (1999).

Other contenders for this years championship include current Nebraska Match Play Champion and Creighton golfer Kevin Stanek,three time CBCC Club Champion Rick Dusek, Creighton players Daniel McKernan and Collin Craft, plus local favorites including 2009 & 2008 USGA Senior Amatuer qualifer Murray (Grand-Pa) Krambeer, Birdie Brett Taylor, Brad Krohn, R.B Loomis, Cole Grandfield, Ken Albrecht and WOWT news anchor John Knicely.
.
Other prominent players who have played in the METRO include current PGA/Nationwide Tour player Scott Gutschewski and mini tour players, David Yarnes and Judd Cornell .

The METRO has truly become the “City Championship” because it involves golfers from both the private and public sectors. For anyone keeping track it’s public players 6 wins and private clubs 6.

Spectators are welcome and play begins at 7:00 AM on both days.

A survey was given to all players after the 2003 event, which identified: The TOP 10 Reasons why the METRO is Special.

10) Flights are named after the golf courses the event has been played at: Platteview, Willow Lakes and Bent Tree and handicaps for players range from 0-20.
9) Players with handicaps from 0-25 play in the METRO and everyone is flighted ahead of time except the Championship/METRO flight
8) Lunch and range balls are provided both days as apart of the players entry fee.
7) Player’s names are announced on the first tee box both days.
6) The banners and signage on the course make’s players feel like there at a big time event.
5) A history of the scores dating back to 1998, plus daily scores and pairings can be found at the tournament website www.metrochamp.com
4) This year’s participant gift provided by Arbys, Red Mango and Golf USA's owner Tom Tvrdik.
3) Spotters and Rules officials on course
2) Get your entry in early, or you’ll get put on the waiting list.
1) Only players from the Metro Area and Council Bluffs are eligible to play. Everybody else is out!

According to Melvin Mungin from Willow Lakes it’s not all about winning.“The Metro is the best organized most fun event around. I play in two or three tournaments a year, and I put the METRO on my calendar as soon as the dates come out. It gives me a chance to compete against guys in my own handicap range and maybe remove a few dollars from some good friends’ Does it get any better than that?”

For more information on the METRO go to www.metrochamp.com, or call 598-7445.