World Class Collegiate Golf to return to Point O' Woods in September

Almost 20 years since the world’s finest college golfers bid farewell to Point O’ Woods Country Club, the next generation of the collegiate best will return to the historic layout in Benton Township this September—and each year thereafter!

Point O’ Woods Country Club, renowned for its championship pedigree as host of the Western Amateur from 1968 through 2008, is announcing the inaugural ’Jim DeLapa Collegiate’, set to take place from Saturday, September 27, through Monday, September 29, 2025.

In partnership with Central Michigan University as the host school, the tournament will welcome 15 elite NCAA Division I college golf programs from across the country.

The Point’s General Manager, Matt Flaherty, has been one of the driving forces behind the idea of bringing World Class Collegiate Golf back to the Point O’ Woods.

Flaherty told MoodyOnTheMarket.com it’s been a labor of love!

“This has been a concept in the works for about 7 years…it has been a passion project of mine since the Western Am knowing it is the clubs’ responsibility to carry on the tradition of Elite Amateur Golf at The Point. The development of the POW Foundation Scholarship program only enhanced the desire to make this happen. “

The event will be a ‘who’s who’ of elite level collegiate golf programs.

Jim DeLapa Collegiate Tournament Participants:

Flaherty told us that with the advent of the Jim DeLapa Collegiate, Point O’ Woods will once again be stepping onto the national stage of the golf world—where it was for so many years as the home of the Western Amateur Championship.

“College Golf has grown tremendously in the past 5 years and hosting an event has become a very competitive market with several options every week for colleges to choose from. We are focusing on coaches who have a history of competing at The Point during the Western Amateur and now having their team come back would be a full circle moment. If there is one event that we are looking to model after, it would be the Western Inter Collegiate at Paso Tiempo in California as it is one of the longest standing Collegiate events and one of the first to be televised.”

Flaherty said that organizers hope to attract national television coverage on a golf-oriented sports channel after a year or two of success with the Delapa event.

Meanwhile, local and regional golf fans are very much invited to mark their calendars now and head out to The Point the final weekend of September.

“The public is highly encouraged to attend the Championship at no charge, it is a free event to attend. There will be opportunities for local businesses to sponsor as well as potentially playing with a Collegiate competitor. We will also have some social functions available for the public to enjoy during the event.”

One of the challenges of the now-departed KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores was finding hotels and support services for such a large event. The DeLapa Collegiate is more ‘right sized’ for the area:

“Each College / University will have 5 players participating and generally 2-3 Coaches. Traditionally there are usually family members of players (based on geographical location) that will attend as well. We will also be reaching out to the college alumni associations to promote them supporting their alma-mater. The players and coaches (as well as any family members) will be utilizing our local hotels for housing. I would also expect the local restaurants will see activity from the event.”

A New Chapter for a Storied Course

Beginning in 2025, the Jim DeLapa Collegiate marks the return of premier amateur competition to Point O’ Woods. The event will be held annually on the fourth weekend of September through 2028, bringing together the best of collegiate golf in a highly competitive 54-hole medal play format.

Flaherty talked about how ‘The Point’ became a page in the memories of the ‘greats of the game’—and likely will again for a new generation of golf’s best.

“Our deep-rooted history with the Western Amateur created lasting memories for our members and featured champions like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Justin Leonard. We’re excited to again showcase the sport’s future stars at The Point.”

The tournament format will include:

Saturday: Practice round
Sunday: 36 holes of medal play
Monday: Final 18 holes, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing both Individual and Team Champions

Giving Back Through the Game

All net proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Point O’ Woods Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial support to deserving caddies and club employees pursuing higher education.

“It’s become a vital part of our club culture, and we’re determined to continue its growth,” said Chuck Smith, Director of the Foundation. “This tournament offers a unique opportunity to support both the game and educational advancement.”

The legacy & heritage of the Jim Delapa Collegiate Tournament:

The Central Michigan University golf team will take a special place in the history of the Jim DeLapa Collegiate as the host college. NCAA Division I Head Golf Coach Kevin Jennings, who has led the Central Michigan team for the past three years, has strong personal ties to Point O’ Woods. A Benton Harbor native, Coach Jennings spent many summers caddying at the club alongside his brother Jeffery Jennings. During these years, the Jennings brothers formed lasting relationships with Point O’ Woods members, Western Amateur participants, and future tour professionals.

The Point holds a cherished place in the heart of the Jennings family, and Coach Jennings’ return to Point O’ Woods as a NCAA Division I Head Golf Coach marks a full circle moment. For the Jennings brothers, their association with the club is further deepened by the mentorship they received under Jim DeLapa and his son Tony, who played significant roles in shaping their careers and community leadership. The Jim DeLapa Collegiate thus carries a profound, personal connection for Coach Jennings and his family, further enriching the event’s legacy.

About Point O’ Woods Educational Foundation:

The Point O’ Woods Educational Foundation was formed in 2022 to allow Point O’ Woods members and their employers to give philanthropic contributions to help our employees achieve their goals and dreams. The foundation is a nonprofit organization and has obtained IRS designation 501(c)3) status.

The foundation’s purpose is to award educational scholarship funds to employees and caddies of Point O’ Woods Golf & C.C. who will be attending or presently are attending a credited college or trade school or taking courses to improve their quality of life. Applicants generally must have been employed by Point O’ Woods for a qualifying period as outlined on the application.

The foundation is a need-based program. The level of need is decided by the foundation committee on a case by case basis. The application requires the following criteria necessary for consideration, including: