Man convicted of insurance fraud at Whitefish golf tournament
Whitefish Pilot | Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 5 hours, 49 minutes AGO
The South Course at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
A Connecticut man previously convicted of insurance fraud in Montana was found guilty again last week after he failed to pay the insured prize for a golf tournament held in Whitefish in 2023.
In 2024, the Auditor's office received a referral from the Montana Chamber Foundation claiming the organization bought prize indemnity insurance from Kevin Kolenda’s company, Hole-in-Won LLC, for the 2023 Governors’ Cup Golf Tournament at the Whitefish Lake South Golf Course.
The insurance was supposed to pay $40,000 if a contestant made a hole-in-one on the insured hole during the tournament. However, Kolenda’s company refused to pay after a contestant made a hole-in-one. In turn, the foundation had to pay the $40,000 prize out of its own funds.
The foundation learned that the Auditor’s Office previously investigated and prosecuted Kolenda for a similar hole-in-one insurance fraud scheme in Missoula County in 2010. That prior case resulted in a misdemeanor conviction and $10,000 in restitution for the victim. The foundation also learned that Kolenda had recently been indicted by a federal grand jury for related insurance scams in other states.
The Auditor's office worked closely with FBI agents investigating the present case. In 2025, the federal government filed a superseding indictment charging Kolenda with wire fraud in connection with the 2023 Governors’ Cup and defrauding of the Montana Chamber Foundation.
Investigators from the Auditor's office were prepared to testify at Kolenda’s federal trial; however, Kolenda signed a plea agreement with the federal government on Sept. 15, 2026. The plea agreement calls for a sentencing guideline range of 46 to 57 months in federal prison, full restitution to Kolenda's victims, and a fine of $10,000 to $100,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec.15.
“I’m glad to see that Montana’s investigative action against Kolenda, alongside that of other states, culminated in federal charges,” Auditor Brown said. “Every dollar in fraud we stop is a dollar that can be used for legitimate business and personal purposes.”
The Auditor's office still has an open investigation concerning Kolenda and Hole-in-Won LLC. Consequently, any other Montana victims of this scheme or others are encouraged to come forward and contact the agency. The Auditor’s office can be reached by calling 406-444-2040. Further resources are available on the agency’s website, located at csimt.gov.