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The Washington Masters enters its twentieth year in 2008. The event has grown considerably since its inception back in 1988 when a few brothers and some friends got together to watch the final round of The Masters in Mick Tovey's back yard. It was a beautiful April day, so they pulled the TV outside, fired up the barbecue and enjoyed some good cheer. After the tournament ended, those in attendance were so inspired that they headed to nearby Auburn Golf Course for a competitive round and started a yearly tradition.

Each year, as more and more friends and family showed up to play golf and watch the final round, the Washington Masters evolved into the event as we know it today. Although the 1989 event was washed out by severe rain (the same year Nick Faldo defeated Ray Floyd in a rain-soaked Augusta Masters), several die-hard golf fans continued the tradition as they gathered together to view the event on TV.

Over the next few years, small informal fields took to the links, generally before the final round began on Masters Sunday, leaving time to watch the televised awarding of the Green Jacket. Unlike the famous Augusta Masters, the venue changed from year to year, and the tournament has traversed three counties and frequented eight golf courses. The tournament has also taken on different formats. Individual medal play and Best Ball have been used, but the scramble format was ultimately adopted in to insure that all players have a chance to contribute, regardless of handicap.

In 1992, chairman Shawn Tovey took the event to new heights and the tournament was transformed by the introduction of the Pink Ball Challenge. That year, the tournament at Golf Mountain (Cascade) was a best ball competition, and the Pink Ball Challenge had the added mystique that each team was issued ONE pink ball, and if it was lost, that team was out of contention for the Pink Ball award.

The following year, the coveted Green and Pink Shirts for the winners were introduced. The Scramble format with the Pink Ball Challenge was adopted and remains in place today (the Pink Ball Challenge was modified to allow continued play after loss of a pink ball). The tournament date was changed to Masters Saturday and the Washington Masters began a three-year stint at Horseshoe Lake Golf Course. The first Green Shirt winners were Mike Tovey, Steve Stoyles, Mark Bassett and Brian Tovey.  Kevin Denton, Noel Martin, Brian Palosi and Mark Tovey proudly wore the initial Pink Shirts (back then, they really were Pink).

In 1995, John Solis captured the Green Shirt on his 50^th birthday (with teammates Rick Berg and Clyde Williams).  That year, controversy erupted at the tournament, as there was a tie for the Pink Ball Challenge title. However, one team had played out of turn, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship that is a hallmark of golfers everywhere, they disqualified themselves. Mike Tovey, Rich Pennewell, Mark Steiner and Kirk Salisbury took home the Pink Shirts.

The tournament visited Madrona Links in Gig Harbor in 1996 and scoring records were set in both the Scramble (-9) and Pink Ball Challenge (82) that remain unbroken to this day. Although the scramble was tightly contested, the Pink Ball Champions (Kevin Denton, Steve Onustack, Bruce Stargel and Don Miller) blew away the field by a record six strokes.

In 1997, the Washington Masters journeyed back over the Narrows Bridge to MeadowPark Golf Course in Tacoma. Here, the Pink Ball Challenge was decided on the last putt. With Steve Stoyles, Eric Blomberg, Dan Kachmer and Dorothea Fitzsimmons safely in the clubhouse at 85, the last group on the course had a chance to tie on the final green, but could not convert. Rick Berg (with Don Zimmerman, Kevin Denton and Steve Denton) won his second Washington Masters title in three years. 

With the growth of the tournament fields, a shotgun start was added for the 10^th Anniversary event at Allenmore Golf Course in 1998.  This was a very closely contested tournament, as four teams finished within one stroke of winners Steve Johnson, Danny Swanson, Dona Thompson and Ed Thompson. One of the original Washington Masters participants, Larry Day, was on the winning Pink Ball Challenge team (with Pat Gleason, Matt Sandmeyer and Skip Hulet). At a post-tournament party at the quirky Java Jive on South Tacoma Way, the Pink Ball Champions earned a spot in Washington Masters lore as they celebrated on the karaoke stage.

The tournament moved north to Lake Wilderness Golf Course in 1999 and 2000. The 1999 edition was the largest ever, with 84 entrants enjoying the festivities. Mike Cutler, Don Miller, Digger O'Dell and Kathy Zimmerman captured the scramble prize, while Tony Bartenetti, Duane White, Jeff Bissell and Colin Rowe won the Pink Ball Challenge. An optional post tournament dinner proved popular with many participants.

The 2000 tournament epitomized the mission statement of the organizers: "Friends, Family, Fun". Kevin Denton won his third Pink Shirt, teaming with his wife Cheryl, brother Steve and good friend Dave Bartz. The Green Shirt winners also exemplified this theme as Mick and Terri Tovey teamed with close friend Mike Fitzsimmons and gradeschool pal Lance Takehara to capture the scramble title.

In 2001, the tournament returned to Allenmore Golf Course in Tacoma. This historic tournament ended in a tie until Dick Thompson sank a 15 foot putt on the third hole of a putt-off to clinch the title for the team of Dick Thompson, Michael Battistelli, Randy Hagen and Brian Tovey.  The Scramble champions also had the lowest Pink Ball score. As stated in the rules, a team may win only one prize, and since the champions chose Green, the Pink Ball title fell to the next highest pink score. However, another tie resulted, and another putt-off ensued. Dick Stowers sunk an 18 foot putt on the first playoff hole to capture the Pink Ball Challenge title for the team of Roger Krause, Dick Stowers, Pete Bernadelli and Bob Erwin.  

2002 featured another playoff, as Mike Vose sunk a 15 foot putt on the first playoff hole to propel the team of Mike Abe, Bert Dewell, Mike Vose and Kevin Hickson to the title. The Pink Ball Challenge went to Dan Bauer, Josh Perry, Pat O'Brien, and Jack Hawkins as they were the only team to break 90 on a difficult Lipoma Firs Golf Course.

In 2003, Chris Tovey hit the most impressive single shot in Washington Masters history, holing out a 230 yard three wood for a double eagle. The shot occurred on the first hole at Gold Mountain's Cascade Golf Course. The albtratross sparked the team of Chris Tovey, Monz Hahn, Tom Zittrich and Greg Biskey to a two stroke victory. Randy Hagen, Lance Takehara, Bert Dewell and Amy Eng captured the Pink Ball Challenge, posting a 89.

McCormick Woods was the new venue in 2004, and the results were breathtaking. A 75 degree day welcomed the participants of the shotgun start scramble, and at the end of the day the winners were familiar: Kevin Denton, Steve Denton, Dan Marshall and Joe Schornak captured a narrow victory over two contenders with a 67. The course gobbled up pink balls, as only three were returned, and Mike Oberg, Joe Bianchi, Troy Oberg and Lance Bickert blew away the field by nine strokes.

In 2005, the tournament returned to McCormick Woods, and the winner recorded the highest score ever: a one under par 71. Steve Onustack, Bert Dewell, Mark Steiner and son Cameron Steiner won the green shirts by one stroke. In the Pink Ball Challenge, Matt Sandmeyer, John Ledeboer, Scott Wood and Neil Tastad returned both balls and won the Pink Ball Championship with an 86.

Rain visited the Washington Masters in 2006 as the tournament returned to Madrona Links in Gig Harbor. The Scramble was determined in a playoff on the 18th green as John Ledeboer, Matt Sandmeyer, Scott Wood and Neil Tastad won the title.  The Pink Ball Challenge was captured by the "Team of Mikes" as Mike Fitzsimmons, Mick Tovey, Mike Vose and Michael Tovey were victorious with an 84.

Despite the tournament's growth, the Washington Masters remains dedicated to friends and family, good sportsmanship, and fun competition. The 2007 tournament will take place on April 7^th. It is sure to be a fun event, featuring warm camaraderie, good sportsmanship, and a team of worthy champions proudly wearing the coveted Green and Pink Shirts at day’s end.