Bemidji State University welcomed over 200 current and former BSU athletes, coaches and supporters to the Bemidji Town & Country Club for the first annual Howe-Welle Women’s Athletics Golf & Cornhole Tournament on Friday, August 23.

A reboot of the long-running Lady Beaver golf tournament that supported women’s athletics at BSU from 1983-2010, the Howe-Welle tournament was named in honor of two of the founders of the Lady Beaver tournament – former BSU women’s basketball (1964-76), tennis coach (1976-86) and pioneer of women’s athletics at the university, Dr. Ruth Howe, and longtime BSU athletics supporter Jeanette Welle.

The four-person golf scramble began at 1 p.m., with participants hitting the course to raise funds for BSU’s nine women’s athletic programs. Lunch was provided on the course  courtesy of Stittsworth Meats in Bemidji. A number of on-course games raised additional funds for the event. Athletes and coaches from Bemidji State’s women’s athletic teams played an important part in the event by selling raffle tickets, staffing the on-course games and helping with the silent auction and dinner.

In addition to the golf tournament, the Howe-Welle included a cornhole tournament. Nine, two-person teams made up of current and former athletes, coaches, university staff and supporters competed for bragging rights as inaugural Howe-Welle cornhole tournament champions. BSU merchandise and other prizes were awarded to the top three cornhole finishers.

The dinner, social, silent auction and program followed the golf and cornhole tournaments. Margi Welle, daughter of tournament founder Jeanette Welle, addressed the crowd about the history of the Lady Beaver tournament and her mother’s legacy at Bemidji State. Dr. Ruth Howe spoke on the importance of celebrating BSU women’s athletics and supporting the university’s female athletic programs.

Awards were presented to the three lowest-scoring golf foursome and winners of the on-course games.

First place (53)
Taylor Offerdahl, Derek Benson, Cody Cook, Erica Gartner

Second place (56)
Elise Stockmoe, Lauren Stockmoe, Scott Stockmoe, Chris Braun

Third place (58)
Mike Fogelson, Steve Fogelson, Riley Fenson, Joseph Welle

Long drive (women): Kalley Wagner

Long drive (men): Joseph Welle

Closest-to-the-hole: Kim Nord

Long putt: Sue Alstrom

The Howe-Welle tournament kicked-off a historic weekend at Bemidji State, with a number of events happening in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of women’s athletics at BSU. Events included a 5K run/walk, guided campus tours, a scavenger hunt, a banquet and reception and a wrap-up brunch on Sunday.