Benton Harbor City Commissioners are excited to welcome the Jim DeLapa Collegiate Golf Tournament to the community this September.

At their regular meeting on Monday, city commissioners heard from Central Michigan University Golf Coach Kevin Jennings the event will be held at Point O’ Woods Country Club for the next four years, bringing in college athletes from all over the nation.

“This year we have teams from all over the country,” Jennings said. “Florida Gulf Coast, San Jose State, New Mexico State, St. Mary’s from California, University of San Francisco, Michigan, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Princeton.”

Jennings said it’s exciting because this will create employment opportunities for Benton Harbor youth while generating economic activity. He said this tournament will put a spotlight on Southwest Michigan and clue young people into what Point O’ Woods has to offer.

“The current generation does not know what that venue is. So what I’m doing is I’m opening doors and allowing the newer generation to understand what that is and what we have here in southwestern Michigan, the gems that we have here, the beauty that we have here in this area.”

The Jim DeLapa Collegiate Golf Tournament will be held September 27 through September 29 with golfers from 15 colleges. They’ll all be staying at The Inn at Harbor Shores, giving that attraction a boost.

Mayor Marcus Muhammad said Monday as a former caddy himself, he’s “tickled to death” the event is coming to Benton Harbor. Organizers say they tried for several years to bring this tournament together, but now it’s finally happening. Muhammad said the city offers its support in any way it can.