Twenty-Eight is Great

Garland, MI--The tournament committee today announced the field of twenty-eight spots for the silver anniversary playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational is completely full. What started on January 24 with Chris Grek's deposit, ended today with Ken Terpstra's. Invitations are closed--the earliest the field has ever been full.

With the announcement the tournament recognized a new attendance record. The 2012 playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational will field the largest and strongest field ever in its twenty-five years. The previous record, set in 1999 at Boyne Highlands, carried a field of twenty-four participants.

Tournament namesake and co-founder, James E. Vos, Sr. would be proud. Vos Sr. or Senior Smoke as he was affectionately called, was one of four men who, in 1988, tasted northern Michigan golf for the first time in their lives and were smitten, returning every year in early summer for the love of friends, fellowship, competition, honor, and the game itself.

Now, twenty-five years later, the field of twenty-eight represents not only the largest, but one of the strongest fields in its history. Led by three-time MVP Jon Vos (1997, 2006, 2011), this year's field boasts no less than thirteen previous Stroke Saver MVP award-winners including the trophy's first winner: Jeff Tanis (1994), and its most recent: John Mulder (2011). In between and returning this year are such rock-solid Stroke Saver MVP winners like Thom Anema (2000), Dan Vander Wal (2002 & (2009), Chris Grek (2003), Dick Anema (2004), Rodger Rice (2005), Ken Terpstra (2006), Jack Vos (2007), Don Van Zee (2008), and Kyle Vander Wal (2010).

Rookies have always played an important role in the tournament. This year, no less than four rookies will make their debut: Ken Klunder, Owen Tanis, Dan Rosema, and Sam Vos will become part of tournament lore making the grand 25th their first. Also back are last year's rookies, Jeff Stuk and Jim Baker.

Perhaps the heartiest welcome goes to those who chose to return after absences--however brief or prolonged--and those who return every single year and without whom the tournament would simply not be the same. The tournament eagerly anticipates the returns Jim Warners, Brian Van Hall, Mark and Phil Vandenberge, Dick and Thom Anema, John Topliff, Robert Warners, Tony Vroon, Dave and Jeff Tanis, and Steve Elenbaas.

The field is set. Let the games begin. Herewith are the final participants for the 25th Anniversary James E. Vos Memorial Invitational:

Mark Rice

Chris Grek

Dave Tanis

Jeff Tanis

Owen Tanis

Jeff Stuk

Dick Anema

Thom Anema

Jim Baker

John Topliff

Brian Van Hall

Ken Klunder

Don Van Zee

Steve Elenbaas

Rodger Rice

Dan Vander Wal

Kyle Vander Wal

Robert Warners

Jon Vos

John Mulder

Dan Rosema

Tony Vroon

Jim Warners

Jack Vos

Sam Vos

Phil Vandenberge

Mark Vandenberge

Ken Terpstra

2011 MVP Announced

Byron Center, MI--The James E. Vos Memorial Tournament Committee today announced Jon Vos and John Mulder as co-MVPs of the 2011 tournament and will jointly hold the coveted Stoke Saver trophy.

Vos is now a three-time MVP, winning it outright in 1997 and sharing the honor in 2006 with Ken Terpstra. This is Mulder's first MVP.

The 2011 Stroke Saver, given to the player or players most instrumental in their team's win, was heavily contested with any one of five different participants vying for the honor. In the end, it was Vos' unbeaten record--despite a tiny asterisk--and Mulder's timely wins that gained them the co-MVP.

Vos played brilliant team match-play golf the entire tournament which is exactly what it takes to win the MVP. His scores weren't the lowest of the week, nor did he lower his handicap significantly. He just won, baby. His lowest score came in the opening round. Paired with Mark Rice, Vos was part of history, playing in the only recorded tournament match where the entire foursome posted sub-80 scores. Even there, his 79 was the highest score of the foursome, but true to his mindset of caring only for the "w" he made crucial contributions on the back 9, propelling his team to a 2&1 win over Team Vander Wal. The pattern would continue. Paired with John Mulder in the second round and Chris Grek in the third round, Vos would card solid 84's and make crucial contributions when it mattered down the stretch. He would pair with his brother in the fourth round scramble for a one-stroke victory to 4-0.

His only asterisk was the last round: singles. Weather delayed the start of the singles match forcing some matches to be cut to 9-holes. Perhaps it was the weather; perhaps the 9-hole format. Neither Vos nor his competitor, Jeff Stuk, played well with Vos winning 3&1 and carding an ugly 47. While this may have bumped others out of contention for the Stroke Saver trophy, Vos' key intangible is how he inspires others. Always the coach, Vos has a knack for relaxing his playing partners and bringing out their best. It is perhaps for this reason alone he has now won more MVPs than any other James E. Vos Memorial Invitational participant.

Equally impressive, but for different reasons, was John Mulder's Stroke Saver-winning 2011. Mulder's 3-2 2011 record is deceptive, proving again it is not always the unbeaten record or the low scores that earn the MVP. Mulder won in all the right places, playing his best golf ever in any previous JEV tournament, and considerably lowering his scoring average. His victories with co-MVP Jon Vos, Chris Grek, and Mark Rice were things of beauty. His scores of 88 (w/Vos) and 90 (with Grek) were tournament career-lows for him, and his pairing with Rice in the scramble resulted in a runaway victory against the formidable duo of Dan Vander Wal and Jim Warners. The scramble win was so decisive, rumor has it celebratory cigars were pulled and lit by the 16th hole.

Even more amazing, Mulder manages to play golf and serve as official team photographer. His lens is never out of reach and he's often seen pulling the trigger on his golf swing immediately followed by pulling the trigger on his camera shutter. Indeed, Mulder deserves his own MVP for the gorgeous photo histories he provides of each tournament.

The tournament committee heartily congratulates this year's Stroke Saver winners.

25th Anniversary Tournament Filling Up

Byron Center, MI--The 25th playing of the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational is still three months away and available spots are filling up.

The tournament committee today announced half of the tournament's available 28 spots are filled. The committee is pleased to accept the following fourteen players into the 2012 tournament including two rookies.

Mark Rice

Rodger Rice

Chris Grek

Dave Tanis

Jeff Tanis

Owen Tanis (R)

Jeff Stuk

Dick Anema

Thom Anema

Jim Baker

John Topliff

Brian Van Hall

Ken Klunder (R)

Don Van Zee

The strong early response combined with many applications still unreceived from veterans like the Vos brothers, Warners brothers, the Vandenberge's, Ken Terpstra, and the VanderWal's suggest a full field of twenty-eight participants is likely. The tournament committee would like to remind everyone that applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.

Two rookies are already in the field of twenty-eight along with several who are returning after multi-year absences. Ken Klunder hails from Moline, MI and is a friend of tournament co-chair, Mark Rice. Owen Tanis is the son of tournament veteran, Jeff Tanis, and the grandson of Dave Tanis, a tournament legend who's historic singles matches against Jon Vos have become part of the tournament's lore. Dave and Jeff have been absent from the tournament since 2010.

The committee heartily received the applications from Thom and Dick Anema of Englewood and Westminster, Colorado, respectively. The Anema's are tournament veterans with Thom being one of the tournament's four founders. His father--Uncle Dick as he is affectionately known--joined a year later. The Anema's have been absent since 2009.

The committee is also delighted to welcome back Brian Van Hall from a 1-year absence, last year's rookies, Jeff Stuk and Jim Baker, and tournament veteran, Donovan "Dynamite" Van Zee. The tournament is simply not the same without the likes of Brian and Don.

Rumors are surfacing that applications will soon be received from Bob Warners who was also absent last year and who is a longstanding and well-loved participant.

Due to the strong early response, the reservation deadline has been extended to March 30, 2012. Invitees are strongly encouraged to send their applications in to the tournament committee no later than that date. Applications will be accepted with a deposit of $100.