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44th Annual Bobcat North Dakota State Open Attracts Golfers, Spectators for Charity

Press Release

(WEST FARGO, N.D. — August 2008) More than 40 years after its first tee off, the Bobcat North Dakota State Open is still going strong. Golf fans turned out Aug. 22 – 24 to watch top professional and amateur golfers compete in the 44th annual Bobcat North Dakota State Open at the Fargo Country Club.

The golf tournament brings together some of the most talented professional and amateur golfers from the upper Midwest for three days of competition and fundraising. This year 198 golfers participated in the event.

Milford, Iowa, native Brady Schnell won the Bobcat North Dakota State Open by one stroke over Ian Hessels. Schnell won the title with a three-day tournament total of 202. On the last day of the tournament, Schnell shot a 9-under-par 63, the lowest score recorded at the Fargo Country Club since the course was lengthened last year. In the final round, Hessels needed back-to-back birdies to force a playoff with Schnell. After a birdie on the 17th hole, Hessels’ birdie shot on the 18th lipped out of the hole to give Schnell the victory. The North Dakota State Open win was Schnell’s fourth on the Dakotas Tour this year. Schnell won $10,000 and Bobcat will pay his $5,000 entry fee to the PGA Tour Qualifying School.

“Golfers at the North Dakota State Open learn what it’s like to play on the PGA tour,” said Mark Johnson, tournament director and director of golf at the Fargo Country Club. “We try to create an experience similar to the PGA tour, but on a much smaller scale, so the golfers can get a feel of what the next step will be like.”

In addition to the Dakotas Tour tournament, the North Dakota State Open also featured an amateur competition. The winner of the amateur tournament was Nathan Anderson. Mike Podolak came in second.

“Bobcat is excited to host the North Dakota State Open for the 24th year,” said Rich Goldsbury, president of Bobcat Americas. “Our company is proud to be a part of this community and to sponsor such a worthwhile event. Thank you to the competitors for providing an exciting weekend of golf.”

Several other events were held in conjunction with the tournament. They included a Big Brothers Big Sisters golf clinic, a skill competition for tournament players and a Friday night barbecue. Though The Village has been the main charity of the golf event for more than 20 years, scholarships were also awarded to local high school students by the North Dakota Open Charitable Foundation and the Fargo Country Club.