Buysse to defend title at Wynston Boe Open

The annual Wynston Boe Golf Tournament, one of the most popular tournaments in the area, is slated for Sunday, July 16 at Countryside Golf Club in Minneota.
This will be the 57th annual open tournament hosted by Countryside GC. The Open Tournament was named after Boe, a longtime golf manager, beginning in 1999.
"He said very little, but I know it meant the world to him," said Boe's youngest daughter, Robin Boe Traen. "We were so glad that it was named after him while he was still alive so he could enjoy it."
Wynston Boe passed away in 2014. His children are Wendy Larson of Minneota, Sheree Obe of Minneota, Brian Boe of Phoenix, AZ; Pam Hennen of Minneota, and Robin Boe Traen of Minneota.
This is one of the few "Open" tournaments still in existence in the state and draws golfers from all over, including former champion Wayne Kompelien, who makes the drive from Virginia each year to play.
Alex "Butch" Buysse won the Championship Flight title last year by one stroke over Charlie Seitzer. Ben Derynck, who finished third last year, won the title in 2021, also by one stroke over Seitzer. Buysse, a Minneota native who now lives in St. Cloud, has confirmed he will return to defend his title.
Derynck, also a Minneota native, coaches and teaches in South Dakota. He is expected to return to play in the tournament, although it is not yet confirmed.
Matt Bennett of Marshall, the 2020 champion, has also confirmed that he intends to play in this year's tournament after missing the last two years due to previous engagements. Ron Labat of Marshall, who has played in 55 of the previous 56 Countryside Golf Club and Wynston Boe Opens, is also expected be on hand. He recorded the net low in the Senior Flight each of the past two years.
Jesse Larson, Wynston Boe's grandson, has won the Championship Flight here 11 times, but is also playing in the MGA qualifying tournament that weekend. If he makes the cut at the MGA tourney, as he has the past few years, he will be unable to compete in the tournament named after his grandfather. He last played here in 2020 and finished second to Bennett.
Another grandson, Brandon Hennen, has been the Countryside Golf Club groundskeeper since 2005 and receives high marks from the tournament participants for the job he does at the course each year.