History

The Red River Amateur Championship, originally known as the KX Amateur Golf Tournament, was founded in 1964 after a conversation between KXJB Sports Director Jim Adelson and Moorhead Country Club Head Golf Professional Jim Werre. Their vision was to create a prestigious regional amateur golf tournament, and with sponsorship from KXJB Television and Moorhead Country Club, the event quickly became one of the area’s most notable competitions. The tournament’s original format featured a Championship Flight competing over 54 holes of stroke play—27 holes on Saturday and 27 holes on Sunday—with the lowest total score determining the champion. In addition to the Championship Flight, other competitors were placed into flights of eight players, determined by handicaps, and played in an 18-hole match play format, with two matches on Saturday and two on Sunday.

The tournament established unique traditions early on. The winner of the Championship Flight was awarded a sportcoat and a television, a distinctive prize that many players, including Tom Lehman, still recall fondly. Flight champions received a new set of irons. Over the years, the tournament format underwent several changes to accommodate growing interest and evolving competition standards. The Championship Flight was later shortened to 45 holes, then to 36 holes, before settling into its current 54-hole format, played over three days—18 holes on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A Senior Championship Flight was introduced, competing over 36 holes (18 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday), further expanding the event’s reach.

In 2022, the tournament made another significant addition with the introduction of the Women’s Red River Amateur Championship, which follows the same 54-hole format as the men’s event, reinforcing the tournament’s commitment to competitive amateur golf across multiple divisions.

For many years, the tournament was preceded by a Pro-Am on Friday, where regional golf professionals would team up with three amateurs for a day of competitive yet social golf. This tradition was later replaced by the Red River 2-Man Championship, offering a new and engaging way for players to warm up before the main event.

Sponsorship and branding have also evolved throughout the tournament’s history. From 1964 to 2009, the event was known as the KX Amateur, before Bank of the West joined as a sponsor in 2010, leading to the KX/BOW Amateur until 2017. In 2018, sponsorship shifted to BlackRidgeBANK, rebranding the event as the BlackRidgeBANK Amateur for two years. Finally, in 2020, the tournament took on its current identity as the Red River Amateur Championship, a name that reflects both its rich history and its regional significance.

Media coverage has played a significant role in the tournament’s prestige. The KX Amateur was once featured in a highly popular Sunday night highlight show on KXJB TV, showcasing the best moments from the Pro-Am and the Amateur tournament. In more recent years, coverage has expanded, and today, the Red River Amateur Championship is broadcast live on WDAY TV across all three days of competition, allowing fans to follow the action in real time.

With a legacy spanning over six decades, the Red River Amateur Championship remains one of the region’s most competitive and respected amateur tournaments. The event continues to attract top amateur talent, providing a stage for both up-and-coming players and experienced competitors to test their skills. The tournament’s long history, evolving format, and commitment to excellence have solidified its place as a premier tournament in amateur golf.