Temperatures are hot and so will be the competition at the 85th Annual Earl Hunt 4th of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.

Head golf pro at the club, Tim Olson, is excited to get things going.

“We just enjoy showcasing the entire facility so much as a staff,” Olson said. “It’s our time to show off Whitefish Lake Golf Club and Whitefish itself.”

Last year’s COVID-19 restrictions have been completely lifted, including a big one — spectators are once again permitted.

The Friday night derby, a favorite of spectators and competitors, is back on this year as well. The derby takes the top 16 of the mens and women’s field based on Thursday’s scores and separates them into 10 teams. This year promises to be particularly exciting.

“Taking that year off the derby, I think it’s going to be a sporty event (this year),” Olson said.

Around 220 golfers (including 30 women) are entered in the tournament this year, which attracts the top players from Montana and the Pacific Northwest, many who return year after year.

“It’s kind of a gathering place once a year to play golf and have a good time,” Olson said. “This event is kind of like a reunion for some of these people.”

Cora Rosanova of Bozeman returns as the defending champion in the women’s flight, which includes several other former champions. The 2018 winner, Jasi Acharya of Minnesota, will be back, as well as two-time champion (2010 and ’15) Darah Newell-Smith of Helena and three-time winner Cathie Tronson of Great Falls, who won in consecutive years (2001, ’02, and ’03).

Ryggs Johnston, the 2020 men’s champion, will not compete this year. Two-time champion Andrew Medley (2012 and ’16) of Scottsdale, Arizona, returns, as does 2019 winner Sean Ramsbacher, and Joey Moore, who won in 2018.

The men will play the South Course (par 71) on Thursday and Saturday and the North Course (par 72) on Friday. The women play the North Course Thursday and Sunday and the South Course on Friday.

Thursday’s tee time for the women’s championship flight is between 7:30 and 8 a.m. The men’s championship flight starts teeing off between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Both flights will tee off between 9 and 11 a.m. On Saturday, the leader group will start teeing off at 1 p.m.

“The golf course is in fantastic shape this year and we are looking forward to a great event as usual,” Olson said. “The heat will be a big factor in this year’s event making it a firm and fast golf course.”