EAST GULL LAKE — The proof is in the big, funny-looking check.
The fourth PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center concluded Sunday, Aug. 31. With a week and a half to let the results manifest, Jack Wawro, tournament organizer and director of golf at Cragun’s Legacy Courses, still thinks it can be bigger and better.
Each of the four seasons of the tournament has seen a significant increase in attendance and money raised for the CRMC Foundation. This year, following the tournament, a check was presented to the CRMC staff for $115,000. That’s a $15,000 increase from last year and a $40,000 increase from year one. In four years, the tournament has raised $350,000 for the foundation.
“We’re seeing a ton of new faces,” Wawro said. “It was a great year. I think the weather helped No. 1. I think we did a better job of marketing, but we saw a lot of new faces. There were a lot of people who were there for the first time and walked away enjoying it. This year, being on Labor Day Weekend helped us because the weather wasn’t boat weather. I do think more people came out and decided to watch golf instead. There are a lot of people in the area and even if they have a couple of hours that are free, why not bring your family to watch some golf?”
People watch golf on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
This year’s CRMC featured three major changes. The first being the 10th tee box, which, for three rounds, was located on the back patio of the Legacy Pavilion. Patrons received an up-close view of the tour pros teeing off on the par 4. The tension and excitement were palpable during Sunday’s final round.
“I heard nothing but positives about that 10th tee box,” Wawro said. “I think the professionals enjoyed it. It got them excited. They knew they had to hit a good shot. They knew there was a little bit of pressure.
“Watching that last group tee off on 10 as they were making the turn was fun. (The fans were lined up) four to five deep. I’ve always wanted that feel. You go to Augusta or the Players’ Championship and they have that. This was our chance to have that and we did. It was four to five rows deep of people watching them.”
The second change was the introduction of Cragun’s Legacy Course’s Red Course to the 18-hole rotation. Opened this spring, the Red Course allowed the tournament staff to use the entire back patio of the Legacy Pavilion. It provided perfect views of the par-3 ninth hole, the 10th tee box and, of course, the 18th green.
The
addition of the Red Course
also allowed a patron area to be placed at the 9th tee box, giving fans views of the eighth green, the first tee box and the entire ninth hole.
“I think all three of those were absolute game changers,” Wawro said. “Bringing the pro closer to the spectator on 10 was big. I think the view up on hole nine, watching No. 1 and hole eight, was a great vantage point. It brought the professional closer to the spectator in all regards. You felt like you were part of a group and it felt like you were right in the action, which made it feel a little more personal.”
Golfing on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
The closing 18th hole
again provided the right kind of drama as a playoff was needed to determine the tournament winner. The playoff hole was replayed on the 18th, where Michael Brennan overcame a shaky tee shot to better
Minnesotan Derek Hitchner
. According to Wawro, had a tie occurred, the playoff would have continued on the 18th hole one more time and then moved to the 10th hole.
“We were excited for the playoff,” Wawro said. “Obviously, with a Minnesotan in Derek Hitchner having a chance to win and then last week’s winner having a chance to win, it was perfect. You could tell there were some nerves in the playoff. They played perfectly up until that point. Hitchner didn’t have a bogey the entire tournament. All of a sudden, he had a great chance to win and all he had to do was keep it in play. It didn’t happen. It was good to see their nerves. I would have loved to see them both birdie to keep it going or an eagle to win. It showed how much was on the line and how important it was for those players.”
Golfing on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
As for having a Minnesota connection, the tournament couldn’t have picked two better sponsorship exemptions than Carson Herron, who tied for 11th with a four-round 265, and Staples-Motley High School graduate and local favorite
Andrew Israelson
, who tied for 28th with a 16-under 268. Israelson’s caddie for the four rounds was tournament sponsor Mike Higgins.
“The sponsor exemption is all about the story,” Higgins said. “How do you pick somebody who is going to bring some people to follow and bring awareness for the course, golf and for the foundation and how do we move the needle.
“We knew Andrew was on a hot streak and so we offered him an exemption and he accepted. I wasn’t planning on caddying this year and Andrew called me a couple of weeks before the tournament and asked me if I would and I said, ‘Heck yes.’ It was great getting to help him. His family was all there and followed us for all four days. It was a great experience. Just watching him go through the ups and downs of the tournament was interesting.”
A golf fan shows off their many autographs on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Golf has been a lifelong passion for Higgins, who was introduced to the game by his grandparents at the age of 10. He said the best thing about the sport is the community aspect and culture. Many of his business dealings have been handled on the golf course. Many of his business partners and key employees have been met on the golf course. Those are a few reasons why Higgins has been fully vested in the event.
“I’ve been there since Day One,” Higgins said. “Ron Sanders and DJ Dondelinger approached me, I don’t know how many years ago now, and we put some money up to have the Dakota Tour come in. From that little pro-am that we had, however many years ago, to what the CRMC week has turned into to me is just phenomenal. Cragun’s and Jack (Wawro), and CRMC and us, and Gertens and Thrivent…it’s growing and it’s going to grow.
“The weather helped and having that tee box on 10 and having the base of everything to do up around that clubhouse was a great move by Jack and his team. I love the growth and the trajectory. I think we had roughly 14,000 people through there this year. We saw that with our social media and all of our analytics. As the presenting sponsor, it’s a humongous financial commitment for us. We saw the clicks, the players at Notch 8, Chef Matt (Annand) and people eating four bowls of his paella; it’s all of the little things. We learn every year. It’s just amazing for this community. It’s the next BIR. Ten years from now, there will be 100,000 people coming to this tournament.”
Golfer Drew Nesbitt tees off on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
Higgins said the PGA Tour is happy. The players consider this their favorite tournament of the season and he is pleased with the direction.
As for that direction, Wawro said he’s always looking to do bigger and better.
“You always have the push to be better,” Wawro said. “To give the spectator or customer a better experience. Every year, you have to find something else. We have a really good idea for next year after seeing the response to the 10th tee. It’s becoming easier to get ready for the tournament, but there is always that push to be better. To give them a little bit something better and a little more excitement.”
Andrew Israelson hands off a club to his caddie and tournament sponsor Mike Higgins after teeing off on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, during the PGA Tour Americas CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.
Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
