This year marks the ninth annual Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend. For the last eight years the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Symetra Tour has brought golfers from around the world to right here in Indiana.
While this year looks a little different due to COVID-19, nothing will keep this year's contestants from playing the game they love.
South Bend Mayor James Mueller, along with Four Winds Casino COO Frank Freedman, Blackthorn Golf Club Chief Executive Officer and Owner Tim Firestone, and Pokagon Band Tribal Council Member-at-Large Gary Morseau, gathered at the corner of Michigan and Washington to celebrate the annual renaming of Michigan Street. This year, they renamed it to Four Winds Invitational Drive.
Downtown South Bend renames Michigan Street in honor of the ninth annual Four Winds Invitational
7 Photos
“It’s important that we maintain this partnership and move forward despite the challenging times we are facing this year, and this is something we can move forward with safely,” said Mueller. “This supports great causes and our ability to come together during this time is critical.”
The tournament typically takes place in early June, but due to the restrictions of COVID-19, planning had to be pushed. While the community can’t be as involved as normal, it’s something for everyone to look forward to.
“It’s our firm belief that we give back to the community where we live, work, and play,” said Freedman. “I think this is a way for us to get on a road back to some sort of normalcy for everyone.”
This is a big partnership for everyone involved, especially the Beacon Children’s Hospital. Proceeds from the event go directly to help the children and families in need.
“When we first started we really wanted to bring that charitable component to it and create an event that the community could rally behind,” said Firestone. “It’s been amazing the support we’ve gotten from corporate sponsorships, from volunteers, and from the media.”
The tournament will take place September 4-6, 2020. For more information about the LPGA Symetra Golf Tour, visit: https://www.symetratour.com/
