The 20th annual Montana Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Governor's Cup Golf Tournament took place in the Kalispell area last weekend, with three local teams placing in the top six of the low gross competition.

The two-day tournament was held at the Eagle Bend and Meadowlake Golf Courses. The 60 teams competing included about 300 players. Teams were not limited to Montana residents only, as golfers from 24 different states were involved in the event.

The low gross champions were Valspar, who carded a score of 120. Mergenthaler Transfer and Storage, and LHC Inc. shared the runner-up slot, with identical 121s. In a fourth-place tie at 122, were Anderson Zurmuehlen and Chrysler & Gordon's CPA's PPLC. F & J Partners, a team with local ties and a past Governor's Cup champion, tied for sixth at 123.

The second-place Mergenthaler's foursome was comprised of Helenans Mike Marxer, Steve Mergenthaler and Bob Seliskar, and former Capital City resident Mark Twichell.

"The courses were playing tougher than usual," said Mike Marxer. "The wind was a factor, but we played the conditions as best we could. We were able to ham-and-egg it real well, meaning that if we covered each other. If someone hit a bad shot, someone else came back with a good shot. Plus we had two chip-ins on the first that really helped."

Marxer said that the Mergenthaler's team has been together now for eight years. They also took runner-up in 2001.

In the low net division, Semitool copped the title with a score of 96.50. Chrysler & Gordon's finished second with a 99.10 total, while Anheuser Busch Companies posted a 101.00 to take third.

A putting contest held in conjunction with the tourney was managed by Kalispell resident and former LPGA pro Alice Ritzman.

The Governor's Cup, which is sponsored by approximately 100 corporations, is a non-profit event, for the purpose of raising economic development for Montana's high schools.

A banquet was held at Kalispell's Hilton Garden Inn on Thursday evening to kick-off the event. In attendance were former governors Tim Babcock, Stan Stephens and Judy Martz, along with the late Tom Judge's widow, Suzie Judge. Special recognition was given to two Governor's Cup longtime contributors who recently passed away, Jeanne Robbins and Charles Brooks.

Jim Tutwiler, tournament coordinator, and Chamber of Commerce stalwart Gordon Pirrie were also recognized during the ceremony for their dedicated service to the Governor's Cup.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net