MARSHALL — The Marshall Golf Club played host to Southwest Minnesota State’s 13th annual Farmer’s Open on Monday morning. The event has raised nearly $100,000 for ag scholarships, the university says.

This year’s Open hit team registration capacity, with 36 teams and 144 total golfers signing up for the event. In addition to the time spent on the links, registration also included a lunch before the tee times, a dinner after and an award presentation ceremony.

The tournament’s high registration is illustrative of the Marshall community’s support for agriculture, SMSU assistant athletic director Kelly Loft said.

“Our committee does an unbelievable job of just having relationships in this community,” Loft said. “It’s such a vital part of what we are in this area, feeding America, and all these businesses take pride in supporting local causes. We just appreciate the sponsors and businesses for supporting ag student scholarships for our Mustang athletes.”

The event also honored Lyle Theisse, one of the Farmer’s Open’s founding members alongside Tom McLaughlin and Tim Deutz, who passed away in November. His photo was displayed in front of the clubhouse next to the registration table and some kind words were said in his honor at the dinner.

“It’s quite an honor to Lyle and I, we ran it [the tournament] along with other staff and ran it for quite a few years,” Becky Theisse, who was married to Lyle, said. “They’re honoring him today also, but we really enjoyed seeing all the people from the area.”

Becky added that Lyle had worked in agriculture for decades, first with Lyon Farm Center and later with Helena Chemical.