Some golf trophies are full of local flavor
We all know what the Claret Jug or the Wannamaker trophy looks like – but what about other championship trophies? Here are our favorite golf trophies from various golf tours.
Our top pick is the Paul Bunyan ax being awarded this Labor Day weekend to the winner of the PGA Tour Americas’ CRMC Championship at the Cragun’s Resort and Conference Center in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Not only is it one of the most formidable-looking golf trophies, it’s likely useful as well. Imagine 2022 winner Jake Knapp answering the front door with hefting that baby.
This year’s CRMC Championship is set for Aug. 29-Sept. 1 at Cragun’s, which is smack in the heart of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox country, two hours northwest of Minneapolis.
The resort, which features 36 Tom Lehman-designed holes (with another nine on the way) is going hard into the Paul Bunyan thing, holding its first-ever Paul Bunyan Fest at the resort in the week following this year’s golf tournament.
Among other golf trophies, our runner-up is the Saturn V rocket replica taken home by Huntsville Championship winners Paul Barjon of New Caledonia, Harrison Endycott of Sydney Australia, and Ben Kohles of Dallas – in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively
Sadly, there was no 2024 version of the trophy after Hometown Lenders, the title sponsor in 2023, abruptly pulled out and left the Korn Ferry event high and dry.
A few of our other favorites:
The Club Car Champioship trophy won by Steve Fisk at the Landings in Savannah, Georgia, this year.
The John Deere Classic trophy won by J.T. Poston at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, in 2022.
The trophy that Canadian A.J. Ewart won at this year’s Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open, a PGA Tour Americas event, in Elk Village, Saskatchewan, is fitting: A piece of wood bracketed by elk antlers.
And finally, the Bahamas Greater Exuma Classic trophy won by Korn Ferry Tour player Jeremy Paul, is colorful, befitting a Caribbean event.
Dan Vukelich is the online editor of Alabama Golf News. Reach him at dan@alabamagolfnews.com
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Featured image of Jake Knapp with the Paul Bunyan ax trophy courtesy of the PGA Tour Americas
