The Waterloo Jaycees Greater Waterloo Open Golf Classic is the oldest and largest golf tournament in the state of Iowa. It has been played annually since 1934, and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008. It is traditionally played over the course of third week/weekend in the month of July.

The tournament actually consists of five separate tournaments which are organized and run simultaneously by a volunteer committee of Waterloo Jaycees. The tournaments are played on the three public golf courses in Waterloo, Iowa.

Don Narveson Memorial Youth Golf Clinic

The Waterloo Open has become nearly a week-long event, and kicks off annually with the Don Narveson Memorial Youth Golf Clinic. The Youth Clinic takes place at South Hills Golf Course on Wednesday morning of the week of the event. Local youth interested in becoming more acquainted with the game of golf (as well as those who already play) can receive one-on-one interaction with golf professionals to refine their swing, receive putting instruction, and learn basic golf etiquette.

Pro-Am Tournament

The tournament itself begins on Thursday morning, when the Pro-Am tournament begins at Irv Warren Memorial golf course. The Waterloo Open receives sponsorship from many local and national businesses, and these sponsors' generosity is repaid partially by being invited to play a round of golf with a professional golfer. Groups of 5 (one professional with 4 amateurs/sponsors) tee it up on either Thursday or Friday.

The professionals compete against each other for a special Pro-Am tournament purse. For those professionals who may not have played in the Waterloo Open before, the Pro-Am tournament serves as a practice round played on the course on which they will compete later that weekend in a competitive environment.

The amateur/sponsor groups also compete for nominal gift certificate prizes awarded to the best overall teams.

Amateur tournament

The Amateur and Senior Amateur tournaments begin on Friday the week of the event. The amateur field consists of 272 golfers, one half of which play at South Hills Golf Course on Friday, while the other one half play at Gates Park Golf Course. The groups switch courses on Saturday and play a second round of golf. After Saturday's round, the top 36 amateur golfers (and ties), along with the top 4 senior amateur golfers (and ties) make the cut and are invited to play a third championship round along with the professional golfers on Sunday at Irv Warren Golf Course. The amateur with the lowest combined 3-day score is the champion and receives a prize in the form of gift certificates redeemable at the local golf course pro shops.

Professional tournament

The main events of the Waterloo Open are the Professional and Senior Professional golf tournaments. 192 professionals compete in a one-day qualifying "shoot-out" on Saturday at Irv Warren Golf Course. After Saturday's round, a cut is made and the top 60 golfers in the Open division, as well as the top 20 golfers in the senior division, play a second round on Sunday for the championship.

Because of the Waterloo Open's relatively large top prize compared to other tournaments of its size ($40,000 to the golfer who wins in 2008) and its reputation as one of the most well-run and hospitable tournaments among professional golfers, it attracts many up-and-coming young golfers from all over the country. Golfers who have competed in the Waterloo Open include current PGA professionals Zach Johnson, Woody Austin, Tom Lehman, and George McNeill.

Winners

YearProfessionalAmateur
2023Evan BrownOwen Sawyer
2022Will DicksonJack Moody
2021Michael VisackiTrent Lindenman
2020Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemicNate Vance
2019Chandler BlanchetJonathan Feldick
2018Richard SchembechlerDusty Drenth
2017Austin QuickAlex Schaake
2016Tom WhitneyAlex Higgs
2015Tom WhitneyCarson Schaake
2014Donald ConstableCarson Schaake
2013Mark BlakefieldRicky Hearden
2012Ryan BlaumBen Juffer
2011Nate LashleyGene Elliott
2010Nate LashleyJustin Weber
2009Andy WiningsKyle Bermel
2008Derek LamelyCole Peevler
2007Jay ReynoldsKeith Jungen
2006Scott HartJamie Frazier
2005Brett MeltonMatt Lowe
2004Jerod TurnerMatt Steddom
2003Steve FriesenMarc Cahalan
2002Jon TroutmanMatt Willmott
2001George McNeillBrock Mulder
2000Jerod TurnerKC Doland
1999Brad KlapprottRyan Smith
1998Sean McCartyCory Braunschweig
1997Jeff SchmidDave Narveson
1996Jeff SchmidNate Lubs
1995Pat MoorePaul Wurtz
1994Darrell ChivingtonScott Brauer
1993Woody AustinScott Brauer
1992Tom GillisJohn Berg
1991Jerry SmithCurt Berggren
1990Ty ArmstrongBill Hoefle
1989Skip HoltonNick De Kock
1988Skip HoltonJohn Dinnebier
1987Clark BurroughsJohn Dinnebier
1986Tom LehmanBrad Clark
1985John BendaMike Ketchum
1984Tony CerdaScott Morgensen
1983Mike BenderChris Donielson
1982Bill SakasTodd Hintgen
1981Curt SchnellDoug Dunakey
1980Tom SieckmannSteve Statton
1979Lonnie NielsenJim Scheppele
1978John JacobsJeff Smith
1977Slugger WhiteSteve Kehrer and Jeff Smith
1976Dick OrrTom VanGerpen
1975Mac McLendonLonnie Nielsen
1974Jack Rule, Jr.Steve Kehrer
1973Roger BuhrtLonnie Nielsen
1972Bob PanasikTom Chapman
1971Jerry AbbottBill Heldmar
1970Curtis SiffordRon Worthington
1969Jack Rule, Jr.Bill O'Connor
1968Cliff BrownJoe Heinz
1967Frank BeardBill Hird Jr.
1966Steve SprayRalph Compiano
1965Rex BaxterJerry Heinz
1964Bob HarrisonEv Scheppele
1963Ron LetellierJim Scheppele
1962Bob ShieldsQueston Boston
1961Joe Moore, Jr.Jim Jamieson
1960Joe BrownQueston Boston
1959Jack EllisJack Rule, Jr.
1958Labron HarrisJack Rule, Jr.
1957J. C. Goosie and Dave RaganLuti Fontanini
1956Jack JonesLuti Fontanini
1955Gene WebbArt Koch
1954Gene WebbJack Webb
1953Johnny JacobsBud McCardell
1952Jerry BarberMerle Stimson
1951Jerry BarberJohnny Jacobs
1950Wally UlrichTom Crabbe
1949Earl WildeArt Koch
1948Leonard DodsonLoddie Kempa
1947Jack HallWarren Riepen
1946Don WilcoxBabe Veum
1945Charles BurkhartEv Scheppele and Dixie Smith
1944Chuck JohnsonDick Graham
1943Bob ReedMerle Stimson
1942Joe Brown and Don WilcoxMerle Stimson and Joe Gardner
1941Joe BrownEd Updefraff
1940Vic BassSid Richardson
1939Don WilcoxDixie Smith
1938Bob Hartenberger and Pat WilcoxGus Moreland
1937Charles Burkhart and Art SteingraberGus Moreland
1936Johnny RevoltaFred Haas
1935Vic BassDick Graham
1934Vic Bass and Howard MartinDick Graham
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