Men's Golf Heads to Historic Point O' Woods to Host Inaugural Jim DeLapa Collegiate
9/26/2025 11:44:00 AM | Men's Golf
Chippewas welcome 12 teams to venerable west Michigan course, site of 41 Western Amateurs
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – For Central Michigan men's golf, it's yet another step forward for the increasingly improving program and its profile.
And it comes at one of the most prestigious and historic addresses in Michigan golf.
Coach Kevin Jennings' Chippewas are set to host the inaugural Jim DeLapa Collegiate at Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 28-29.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for the program with where we are and where we want to go," said Jennings, who has led the Chippewas since the program was resurrected ahead of the 2021-22 season after a 37-year hiatus. "It's an opportunity to elevate the profile of our program even though we're still relatively young in our resurgence."
The 54-hole, stroke play event, which is co-hosted by the Golf Coaches Association of America, comprises 13 teams, including Michigan, Princeton, Florida Gulf Coast and four California-based schools, San Jose State, San Francisco, Pacific and St Mary's College.
And it will be played on one of the Midwest's most famous golf courses. Point O' Woods has hosted the prestigious Western Amateur 41 times.
Point O' Woods holds a special place in Jennings' heart. A Benton Harbor native, Jennings caddied at the club and worked in the bag room as a youngster in the 1980s. He carried there for 1986 Western Am winner Greg Parker.
The tournament is named in honor of Jim DeLapa, a longtime Point O' Woods member who, along with his son Tony, played a very influential role for Jennings while Jennings worked there.
"We are very excited to open the doors of Point O' Woods, one of the most historic venues in the Midwest and in amateur golf on the planet," Jennings said. "It's very humbling to return here with my team in such a glorified, elevated, competitive event.
"The inaugural Jim DeLapa Collegiate is another building block, a very important one, in setting the stage for the future of our program."
The festivities get underway on Saturday with a 9 a.m. practice round followed by a college-am outing that carries a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start.
The on-site opening ceremony including a welcome party is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and a skills challenge featuring players from competing teams is scheduled for Saturday during the welcome party.
Spectators are welcome throughout the entire three-day event and admission is free. The welcome party tent will feature televisions, allowing attendees to follow college and NFL football as well as the Ryder Cup, which is being played simultaneously at Bethpage State Park in New York.
"We invite any and all CMU supporters – and golf fans in general – to come out and see some outstanding collegiate players, and enjoy all the peripheral festivities, at a stunning and historic venue," Jennings said. "It will be a great weekend of golf."
The DeLapa Collegiate is the first of two fall in-state events for the Chippewas. The CMU men's and women's teams are set to co-host the Motor City Matchup, a two-day co-ed match play tournament, at Birmingham Country Club in mid-October.
The DeLapa also is the first of two highly prestigious stroke-play events the Chippewas are slated to host in the 2025-26 season. They are slated to host an international field at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational at Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif. March 23-24.
"This event along with the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational allow us to showcase our program on a national and an international scale," Jennings said.
And it comes at one of the most prestigious and historic addresses in Michigan golf.
Coach Kevin Jennings' Chippewas are set to host the inaugural Jim DeLapa Collegiate at Point O' Woods Golf & Country Club on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 28-29.
"It's a tremendous opportunity for the program with where we are and where we want to go," said Jennings, who has led the Chippewas since the program was resurrected ahead of the 2021-22 season after a 37-year hiatus. "It's an opportunity to elevate the profile of our program even though we're still relatively young in our resurgence."
The 54-hole, stroke play event, which is co-hosted by the Golf Coaches Association of America, comprises 13 teams, including Michigan, Princeton, Florida Gulf Coast and four California-based schools, San Jose State, San Francisco, Pacific and St Mary's College.
And it will be played on one of the Midwest's most famous golf courses. Point O' Woods has hosted the prestigious Western Amateur 41 times.
Point O' Woods holds a special place in Jennings' heart. A Benton Harbor native, Jennings caddied at the club and worked in the bag room as a youngster in the 1980s. He carried there for 1986 Western Am winner Greg Parker.
The tournament is named in honor of Jim DeLapa, a longtime Point O' Woods member who, along with his son Tony, played a very influential role for Jennings while Jennings worked there.
"We are very excited to open the doors of Point O' Woods, one of the most historic venues in the Midwest and in amateur golf on the planet," Jennings said. "It's very humbling to return here with my team in such a glorified, elevated, competitive event.
"The inaugural Jim DeLapa Collegiate is another building block, a very important one, in setting the stage for the future of our program."
The festivities get underway on Saturday with a 9 a.m. practice round followed by a college-am outing that carries a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start.
The on-site opening ceremony including a welcome party is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and a skills challenge featuring players from competing teams is scheduled for Saturday during the welcome party.
Spectators are welcome throughout the entire three-day event and admission is free. The welcome party tent will feature televisions, allowing attendees to follow college and NFL football as well as the Ryder Cup, which is being played simultaneously at Bethpage State Park in New York.
"We invite any and all CMU supporters – and golf fans in general – to come out and see some outstanding collegiate players, and enjoy all the peripheral festivities, at a stunning and historic venue," Jennings said. "It will be a great weekend of golf."
The DeLapa Collegiate is the first of two fall in-state events for the Chippewas. The CMU men's and women's teams are set to co-host the Motor City Matchup, a two-day co-ed match play tournament, at Birmingham Country Club in mid-October.
The DeLapa also is the first of two highly prestigious stroke-play events the Chippewas are slated to host in the 2025-26 season. They are slated to host an international field at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational at Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif. March 23-24.
"This event along with the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational allow us to showcase our program on a national and an international scale," Jennings said.
MGLF DeLapa melt
Friday, September 26
MGLF DeLapa interviews
Friday, September 26