There he was with a few holes left, trailing the leaders and unable to separate himself from the pack.

In the blink of an eye, all that changed.

“On 17, Al Skiba came up to me and said, ‘Those guys (Bob Centala and Tom Grueter) are blowing up. All you’ve got to do is (shoot for) par and you win,'” Skiba said. “It was kind of a blur. My Dad was caddying for me and I shot 72 for the (final) round.”

Skiba rallied to beat Grueter by one stroke, cementing his place as a City Open winner.

1969—Although not as sharp, Jim Boynton defended his City Open title, shooting a 150, which put him nine strokes ahead of runner-up Dave Karschnick Sr.

In 49 years of blowouts and close calls, playoffs and rallies, the City Open is full of scenes like these. The event, which has been a mainstay in Alpena since 1968, will commence for the 50th time on Saturday at River’s Edge Golf Club and wrap up Sunday with the final round at Alpena Golf Club.

The thrill of winning is contagious amongst those who participate. After all, those who win the City Open can lay claim to being the best golfer in Alpena, at least for that weekend. But more than winning, competition, camaraderie and family are the cornerstones of the tournament and drive golfers to keep playing year after year.

“I think a lot of the guys I play with, they enjoy competing against their friends and (getting) bragging rights,” Skiba said. “I look at the list of guys that have won, guys like Bill Peterson and Phil Straley. I remember looking up to Bill Peterson when I was younger, thinking (that) to win one would be cool.”

In 49 years, only 16 men can make the claim of being a City Open champion and seven are repeat winners. A playoff has decided the winner five times and the championship has been decided by five strokes or less every year since 1994.

Nearly a dozen times, the men’s championship was won by a single stroke.

1970—Jim Boynton won his third consecutive City Open title, shooting a 145 to best Paul Bott by 12 strokes.

But the competition has always proven to be tough and the challenge of putting together two good rounds at two different courses has kept golfers competing for the top prize.

“If you have a good weekend, you can win,” Dave Karschnick Sr. said. “That’s what it’s all about and you see it in the pros too.”

The modern City Open began in 1968 when Karschnick and his golfing buddies wanted to know who the best golfer in Alpena was. Both courses–Alpena Country Club (now River’s Edge) and Alpena Golf Club– held a club championship, but the City Open pitted the best from both clubs against each other in a two-day tournament with one round played at each course.

The original City Open was held exclusively at Alpena Golf Club and was dominated by Jim Boynton, who won 20 City Open titles, with 13 of them won before the modern tournament.

“Alpena has always been a very competitive town and golf has evolved to being that kind of sport,” Karschnick said. “There was never any competition between the two courses and lot of times River’s Edge members don’t get a chance to play at Alpena Golf Club and vice versa.”

1971—A steady performance during a windy final round on Sunday helped Jim Boynton win his fourth City Open title. Boynton led Gerald Skiba by two strokes after the first round, but prevailed on Sunday with a final round of 76 while everyone else shot in the 80s. Boynton finished with 147 while Skiba had 156.

Karschnick paid $28 for a trophy and charged a $3 entry fee. Twenty-three golfers, including Karschnick, Straley and Boynton took part in the tournament. Boynton, known for his strong iron play and short game, easily took top honors, winning the inaugural tournament by 12 strokes over Phil Richards.

Boynton’s dominance in the event continued for the next four years and he won seven titles in nine years. It wasn’t until 1973 when Mike Doyle won by a single stroke that Boynton was defeated.

For the first seven years the City Open was limited to a single championship flight, but in 1975 a handicap flight was added and in 1982, three flights were played. By the next year, four different flights were played. At its peak, more than 100 golfers signed up to play every year.

This year more than 80 golfers will compete across a half dozen flights.

Boynton’s stretch of dominance gave way in 1974 when Peterson, then a 21-year-old Alpena Community College student, bested Boynton and Earl McDonald by two strokes.

1972—Jim Boynton continued his dominant run with his fifth City Open title, defeating Steve Westrope by six strokes, 152 to 158. In the first women's City Open title, Shelly Attwell was crowned champion.

Over the next 25 years, Peterson staked his claim as Alpena’s top golfer, winning 16 more titles to become the all-time City Open winner.

While Peterson had his share of dominant victories, he also proved to be a clutch performer who was able to defeat golfers young and old. He defeated golfers of Boynton’s generation and held his own with his contemporaries, but Peterson also fended off challenges from up-and-coming golfers. In the early ’90s, Peterson battled with Alpena High School phenom Brent Idaski and the two of them finished 1-2 in three City Opens between 1990-94. Peterson edged Idalski in 1990 and 1992, but Idalski topped Peterson in 1994 to win back-to-back titles.

“Alpena has a lot of good golfers. When I was coming up Jim Boynton was winning every year, but every year someone seemed to step up and play well. It’s a little more enjoyable when you’ve got a good battle,” Peterson said. “It’s always hard when you know someone’s going to play well.”

In recent years, Phil Straley has become the man to beat, even as the number of championship flight golfers has thinned out. Straley has won eight titles overall with his first coming in 1989 and his last coming last year. Straley competed in the very first City Open and like many golfers before him, established himself as a top competitor year after year. In addition to his eight City Open titles, second most all-time, he has finished runner-up seven times.

“Competitive golf is a little different than going out there on a Saturday morning. You concentrate and block out the noise,” Straley said. “The more you’ve played in tournaments, you become more hardened, a little more focused.”

1973—Mike Doyle became just the second winner of the City Open, nipping Jim Boynton by one stroke, 154 to 155. Boynton had a four-stroke lead with three holes to play, but Doyle rallied past him to win. Mary Joe Zadow won the women's City Open title.

The women’s division of the City Open hasn’t been around as long, but it nonetheless has proven to be competitive. In 33 years of competition, there have been 17 different winners.

“It’s probably the competition (that keeps the tournament going). I like the competition,” Sue Geyer, a seven-time winner, said. “It’s the same women who golf, but there’s a camaraderie and competition there.”

Shelly Attwell won the first women’s City Open in 1972 and golfers like Millie Maillatt and Gale Hovey won multiple titles over the next six years. After a 12-year period with no women’s division, the women’s City Open returned in 1991.

After Judi Sobczak won in 1991, several golfers stepped to stake their claim as Alpena’s best female golfer. Sue Peterson-Tuohy won four times between 1992 and 2004 and Mary Jones and Katie Wozniak each claimed two titles in that span.

At the turn of the millennium, two golfers emerged as frontrunners in the tournament, Gisela Schreier and Geyer.

From 2000 to 2015, the two of them have combined for 11 City Open titles and both of them have won back-to-back titles with Geyer accomplishing the feat twice. Four times the two of them finished 1-2 in the event.

Family has also proven to be an important element of the City Open’s longevity. Whether it’s sons following in their fathers’ footsteps by competing or relatives competing with one another, the competitiveness among family members to add their names to the winner’s trophy has been passed down over the years.

“I would read about these individuals and (a lot of young players) they looked up to their father or brother who competed,” River’s Edge PGA Professional Jerry McConnell said. “Within a family, they have that same competitive nature and they want to win.”

Karschnick and his son Dave Jr. combined for five second place finishes in the first 20 years before Dave Jr. finally claimed City Open gold and was awarded the Open trophy by his father. Dave Jr. won again in 2004.

“That was a memorable moment for me,” Karschnick said. “To give him the trophy was pretty special.”

Peterson knows that feeling as well. After he won 17 titles and his sister, Sue-Peterson Tuohy, won four, Peterson’s son Erik added to the family’s golfing legacy by winning the event in 2010.

The Skiba family also has carved out its place among City Open winners. Along with Todd Skiba’s two titles, his cousin Jerry Skiba Jr. won the event in 1995 and Jerry’s kids Tyler and Maggie each won a title of their own in 2009 and 2015 respectively. Even Jerry’s father Gerald earned a piece of City Open hardware, winning the title in 1963.

Several special things are planned for this weekend in honor of the tournament’s anniversary. On Saturday, River’s Edge will host a lunch and ceremony to celebrate the anniversary and many former winners are expected to attend.

The tournament will have a different feel too. Flags signed by several past winners will be put on each of the flag sticks on the greens at River’s Edge and a scoreboard with moving strips and pictures of the golfers will keep track of the tournament’s progress. The surface around each of the cups will be painted white to give the tournament a professional feel as well.

“If you go back to the PGA and look at the events that were happening in 1968, many of them aren’t around any more,” McConnell said. “To have a local tournament like this last 50 years is pretty amazing.”

——

Mens City Open Winners

1968–Jim Boynton

1969–Jim Boynton

1970–Jim Boynton

1971–Jim Boynton

1972–Jim Boynton

1973–Mike Doyle

1974–Bill Peterson

1975–Jim Boynton

1976–Jim Boynton

1977–Bill Peterson

1978–Bill Peterson

1979–Bill Peterson

1980–Bill Peterson

1981–Paul Bott

1982–Bill Peterson

1983–Mike Steber

1984–Bill Peterson

1985–Bill Peterson

1986–Bill Peterson

1987–Bill Peterson

1988–Bill Peterson

1989–Phil Straley

1990–Bill Peterson

1991–Bill Peterson

1992–Bill Peterson

1993–Brent Idalski

1994–Brent Idalski

1995–Jerry Skiba Jr.

1996–Bill Peterson

1997–Dave Karschnick Jr.

1998–Bill Peterson

1999–Bill Peterson

2000–Brett Anderson

2001–Phil Straley

2002–Phil Straley

2003–Andrew Benson

2004–Dave Karschnick Jr.

2005–Phil Straley

2006–Phil Straley

2007–Todd Skiba

2008–Phil Straley

2009–Tyler Skiba

2010–Erik Peterson

2011–Todd Skiba

2012–Phil Straley

2013–Tom Johnson

2014–Tom Lahner

2015–Tom Lahner

2016–Phil Straley

Womens City Open Winners

1972–Shelly Attwell

1973-Mary Joe Zadow

1974–Marti Cole

1975–Millie Maillatt

1976–Millie Maillatt

1977–Gale Hovey

1978–Gale Hovey

1991–Judi Sobczak

1992–Sue Peterson-Tuohy

1993–Char Bellas

1994–Mary Jones

1995–Mary Jones

1996–Gretchen Zick

1997–Sue Peterson-Tuohy

1998–Sue Peterson-Tuohy

1999–Katie Wozniak

2000–Gisela Schreier

2001–Katie Wozniak

2002–Sue Geyer

2003–Sue Geyer

2004–Sue Peterson-Tuohy

2005–Gisela Schreier

2006–Sue Geyer

2007–Gisela Schreier

2008–Gisela Schreier

2009–Sue Geyer

2010–Laurie Rochefort

2011–Mary Sue O’Brien

2012–Sue Geyer

2013–Sue Geyer

2014–Maggie Skiba

2015–Sue Geyer

2016–Kelsey Diamond

1974—Playing against talented veterans, 21-year-old Alpena Community College student Bill Peterson won the City Open by two strokes. Peterson carded a 156 to win, two strokes better than Jim Boynton and Earl McDonald. Over the next 25 years, Peterson won the event 16 more times to become the event's all-time winningest golfer.

1974—Marti Cole won the women's City Open title.

1975—After being upset by Bill Peterson the year before, Jim Boynton claimed the top prize for the sixth time in eight years. Boynton trailed Peterson by two strokes after the first round, but eventually overtook Peterson on No. 11 during the final round and kept the lead the rest of the way. Boynton fired a two-day total of 149, four strokes better than Peterson. Millie Maillat won the women's City Open title.

1976—Leading the field nearly from start to finish, Jim Boynton won the last of his City Open championships. Boynton shot a 151 over 36 holes, three strokes better than Bill Peterson and Bill Yahne. Millie Maillat won the second of her two consecutive women's titles.

1977—Bill Peterson faced a fight to the finish to win his second City Open title, besting Bob Belton by one stroke, 145 to 146. Gale Hovey earned the women's title, defeating Mag Yockey 173 to 181. Gale Hovey won the first of two consecutive women's City Open titles.

1978—It was another close call for Bill Peterson as he defeated Mike Steber by one stroke, 151 to 152, to win his third City Open title. Peterson three-putted on the 18th green at Alpena County Club, but still managed to hang on for the win. Both golfers tied with 74 after one round, but Peterson took the lead after the front nine on Sunday. Gale Hovey won the women's title, defending her championship from 1977

1979—Bill Peterson and Paul Bott went right down to the wire battling for the City Open title, but it was Peterson who ultimately prevailed. Peterson finished with 151 to win his fourth City Open title and Bott had 152. Both golfers fought right to the 18th hole in the final round, but Peterson took the championship after two-putting for par while Bott settled for a bogey.

1980—It was business as usual as Bill Peterson won his fourth straight City Open championship and fifth overall, carding a 147 to defeat Paul Nowak by eight strokes.

1981—In the first City Open decided in a playoff, Paul Bott defeated Dave Karschnick Jr. to win his first title. With both golfers tied at 152, Bott shot for par on the first playoff hole while Karschnick took a six.

1982—After a one-year absence, Bill Peterson easily won his sixth City Open title. Peterson fired a two-day total of 141, topping Dave Karschnick Jr. by eight strokes. Karschnick had one of the tournament's highlights when he nearly tied Jim Boynton's Alpena Golf Club nine-hole record of 29, but narrowly missed a putt to finish with 30.

1983—After holding a three-stroke after the first round, Mike Steber held off a charge by Bill Peterson to win the City Open by a single stroke, 142 to 143.

1984—Tied at 73 with two other golfers at the end of round 1, Bill Peterson fired a 70 in the final round on Sunday to defeat Phil Straley by six strokes. The win gave Peterson his seventh City Open title in 11 years. This event also saw a record number of golfers, with approximately 120 participating.

1985—Despite a self-described less than stellar performance, Bill Peterson still managed to retain his City Open title for his eighth title. Peterson finished with 149, two strokes better than Dave Karschnick Jr. and Phil Straley. Peterson's win allowed him to pass Jim Boynton as the City Open's winningest golfer.

1986—Plagued by injuries all summer, Bill Peterson wasn't supposed to be a factor in the City Open. Instead he went on a tear during the final round, overcoming two rain delays to birdie four of the final eight holes and win his third straight title and ninth overall by 11 strokes. Peterson carded a 141 and runner-up Mike Daleski had 152.

1987—For the fourth straight year and 10th time overall, Bill Peterson won the City Open title, finishing five under at 149 to beat Dave Karschnick by four strokes.

1988—For the fifth straight year and 11th time overall, Bill Peterson staked his claim as Alpena's best golfer at the City Open. Peterson came through in the clutch again, defeating Bill Yahne by a single stroke, 147 to 148.

1989—Phil Straley ended Bill Peterson's five-year grip on the City Open by beating Peterson by three strokes, 149 to 152. It was the first of Straley's eight City Open titles.

1990—In winning his 12th City Open title, Bill Peterson got a challenge from an up-and comer, defeating 16-year-old Brent Idalski by three shots, 146 to 149.

1991—Bill Peterson took an all comers and still came out on top to win his 13th City Open title. Peterson carded a two-day total of 149, beating Trent Mainville by three strokes.

1992—Two years after they battled in the final round, Bill Peterson were at it again. Peterson once again edged Idalski, beating him by a single stroke, 146 to 147, to win his 14th City Open title and third in a row. Peterson's win capped a dominant stretch of eight titles in nine years.

1994—Brent Idalski came out on top again to win his second straight City Open title. Idalski was challenged by a familiar foe, beating Bill Peterson by two strokes, 143 to 145. Mary Jones was a first time winner of the women's City Open, defeating defending women's champion Char Bellas. 1993—Brent Idalski finally had his breakthrough moment at the City Open in 1993, carding a 139 and defeating Gerry Kneeshaw by eight shots. Char Bellas won her first women's City Open title, defeating Sue Peterson by two shots, 180 to 182.

1995—Jerry Skiba Jr. sank a 15-foot putt on the first hole to defeat Chris Limback and Phil Straley in a playoff as all three golfers carded a 150. Skiba shot a 72 in the second round to get in the hunt for the win and Straley, a City Open veteran and Limback, a newcomer, dueled over the final three holes to grab spots in the playoff. Mary Jones captured her second women's City Open title in dominating fashion, defeating Gisela Schreier by 29 strokes, 160 to 189.

1996—Fending off a challenge from Gerry Kneeshaw, Bill Peterson earned his 15th City Open title. Peterson held the advantage with one hole to play, but nearly surrendered his lead as Kneeshaw almost chipped in to force a playoff. Peterson sank a par to putt to seal the victory. With two-time defending champion Mary Jones out of town, Gretchen Zick won her first women's City Open title, defeating Sue Peterson-Tuohy by three strokes after overtaking her on the back nine.

1997—After years of coming agonizingly close, the Karschnick family finally claimed City Open gold as Dave Karschnick Jr. won the first of his two City Open titles. Karshnick rallied from a four-shot deficit over the final five holes to defeat veteran Bill Peterson by one shot, 150 to 151. Sue Tuohy won her second women's City Open title, defeating Vicky Lindsay by 12 shots, 157 to 169.

1998—It was a family affair for the Peterson family as Bill Peterson and Sue Tuohy repeated as City Open champions. Peterson won his 16th City Open title after battling Tom Grueter throughout the final round, eventually prevailing by one shot, 145 to 146. Tuohy won her fourth City Open going away, winning by 18 shots. Tuohy shot 46 on the front nine Saturday and followed with rounds of 39, 38 and 38 to win. Jan Kaiser was second with 179.

1999—Despite some struggles early in the year, Bill Peterson found his game when it counted most to win his 17th and final City Open title. Peterson fired a 145 to defeat Jerry Skiba Jr. by five shots. Katie Wozniak earned the first of her two women's City Open titles, firing a 173 to beat Vicky Lindsay and Sue Tuohy. Wozniak was seven shots behind Tuohy entering the final round and three shots back with nine holes to play, but made up the difference to win.

2000—Brett Anderson won the City Open men's title, carding a 150. Gisela Schreier earned the first of her four City Open women's titles, finishing with a 170, five strokes ahead of Sue Tuohy.

2001—Phil Straley won his second City Open title, a dozen years after his first title in 1989, defeating Dick Boyce by two strokes. Katie Wozniak won her second City Open women's title, easily winning by 12 strokes over runner-up Vicky Lindsay.

2002—Phil Straley's third victory in the City Open was also his closest. Straley defeated Rory Lanaway on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win and both golfers carded scores of 146. Sue Karsten rallied past Sue Tuohy to win her first City Open title. Karsten erased a four-shot deficit over the final nine holes and finished with a 168, one stroke ahead of Tuohy.

2003—In a drama-filled battle, Andrew Benson won the City Open after defeating Matt Boyk on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff. Benson sank a 10-foot birdie putt and cancelled out a valiant effort by Boyk, who chipped onto the green on No. 2 on his third shot, but ultimately settled for par. Benson nearly shot for eagle on the first playoff hole, but both players settled for birdie. Both players finished with a two-day total of 147. Sue Karsten won her second straight women's City Open title, defeating Gisela Schreier by eight shots.

2004—In another close finish, Dave Karshnick Jr. defeated Bob Centala on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the City Open for the second time. It marked the third straight year the men's City Open title was decided in a playoff. On hole No. 1, Karshnick pared the hole while Centala settled for a bogey. Both golfers carded a 153. Sue Tuohy won the last of her four City Open women's titles carding a 165, five strokes better than Sue Karsten.

2005—After taking a vacation and time off from golf, Phil Straley was far from rusty en route to winning his fourth City Open title. Straley shot 147 and defeated Matt Boyk by five strokes.

2005—Gisela Schreier won her second City Open, shooting a 39 on the back nine to defeat Mary Sue O'Brien by strokes, 177 to 182.

2006—Continuing a dominant run, Phil Straley won his fourth City Open championship in six years and fifth overall, defeating Jerry Skiba Jr. by three shots.

2006—Sue Geyer continued a dominating run of her own, winning her third title in five years and made up six strokes on Gisela Schreier to eventually beat her 178 to 181.

2007—Todd Skiba rallied back on Sunday to win his first City Open title. Skiba began his final round three strokes behind leader Bob Centala, but rallied to win by one, besting Tom Grueter 147 to 148.

2007—Gisela Schreier won her third women's championship, pulling away from Sue Geyer down the stretch to win by four strokes, 175 to 179.

2008—Phil Straley found his short game at the right time to win his sixth City Open title. Straley shot a 149 and defeated Ken Pokorzynski and Ryan French by two strokes. Gisela Schreier won her fourth women's title and third in four years, edging Laure Rochefort by a stroke, 174 to 175.

2009—At age 18, Tyler Skiba won his first City Open title, besting Cory Milostan by three strokes. Skiba joined his father Jerry Skiba Jr. and his cousin Todd Skiba as City Open winners. Sue Geyer won her fourth women's championship, defeating two-time champion Gisela Schreier by 12 strokes.

2010—Erik Peterson joined his father Bill as a City Open winner in 2010, outdistancing himself from Phil Straley 142 to 147.

2010—Laurie Rochefort won the women's title, firing a 181 to defeat Jan Kaiser by five strokes.

2011—Todd Skiba earned his second City Open title, holding off a rally from Pul Straley to win by three strikes (140 to 143). Mary Sue O'Brien edged Gisela Schreier 179 to 182 to win the women's title.

2012—In a familiar result, Phil Straley and Sue shared the winner's stage at the City Open for the third time. Straley made up for a disappointing finish in 2011 by pulling away from Tom Lahner late to defeat him by four strokes (143 to 147) for his seventh title. Geyer shot a 163 and won her fifth women's title by double digits, well ahead of Kristen Kennedy's 176. Geyer held a three-stroke lead over Kennedy after the first day and gradually pulled away from her on Sunday.

2013—Competing in his first City Open, Tom Johnson won the title after firing a 149, two strokes better than Trent Donajkowski and Phil Straley.

2013— Sue Geyer earned her sixth women's title, shooting a 175, 15 strokes ahead of Jan Kaiser.

2014—Tom Lahner earned his first City Open title, shooting a 144 to hold off Phil Straley (146) and Todd Skiba (148). Maggie Skiba won the women's title in her first City Open, defeated Sue Geyer by six strokes.

2015—Tom Lahner repeated as men's champion, firing a 144 to hold off a challenge from Todd Skiba, who shot a 147. Sue Geyer collected her fifth title after finishing with a 171, 17 strokes ahead of Gisela Schreier.

2016—A quick trip to the putting green on Sunday morning paid off in a big way for Phil Straley as he rallied to win his eighth City Open championship. The win moved Straley past Jim Boynton into second place for all-time wins. Kelsey Diamond won the women's City Open in her first attempt, carding a 181 as the only woman to play in the championship flight.

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