Twenty-five of the state's best professionals will compete for prize money that already exceeds $5,000.     Proceeds from the event will benefit Fun Books for Kids, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that promotes reading among families with children in the Pequot Lakes School District.

"Fun Books is one of my favorite organizations," says Breezy owner Bob Spizzo, "because the ability to read is absolutely fundamental to a successful professional life.     "But I need to credit Diane Williams and Mike Landecker for bringing the organization and its mission to my attention," he says. "We want this golf tournament to help make sure everybody knows about it."

"Big All" Robinson, owner of National Carpet Brokers of Breezy Point, has contributed $2,500 toward the prize fund as the other primary sponsor of the tournament.

Several area companies have purchased sponsorships for $100 to $300, including Landecker and Associates, Anderson Brothers, the Commander Bar, Auto Value Stores, Tanner Motors, Reinhart Foods and Knoxie's, Knoxies', Willer Lawn Care Service, Prime Time Food & Spirits, Dotty Brothers, KLKS-Radio, and Kimble Kottage.

Bill Israelson, a former tour professional who now resides in Staples, is an early tournament favorite, according to Ken Lubke, the resort's professional who will host Whitebirch's first pro-am tournament since its opening in 1993.

Israelson is a former Minnesota PGA Sectional Player of the Year. He will lead a field of 25 foursomes, each anchored by a professional and three low-handicap amateurs from their home courses.

Scott Spence, the pro at Burle Oaks, and Jay Norman of Dellwood Country Club also are signed for the event.

"Both are among the top 10 players in the state," Lubke says, "and will offer some pretty stiff competition for the final field."

The event is the only MPGA-sanctioned pro-am tournament in northern Minnesota this summer, Lubke says.

The pros will compete head to head in medal play for a share of the prize money. Their scores also will be used in the two-better-balls-of-four net scoring format that will determine winners of the team title. Amateurs on the winning teams will be awarded gift certificates.

Sponsors and their playing partners will compete in a Sponsors Challenge, which will begin after the final pro-am team tees off. Gold sponsors ($300) receive three entry passes, while silver sponsors ($200) receive two and bronze sponsors ($100) one entry. The format will be a best-ball scramble.

The pro-am field prizes include an automobile donated by Tanner Motors of Brainerd for a hole-in-one at the fifth pin. A prize also will be awarded for closest to the pin at nine and 12, both par-threes.

Sponsors and their team members will compete for prizes in putting and chipping contests at $2 per ball and a driving contest at $5 per ball. The public is invited to participate in these events, sponsored by Coca Cola and Spalding Top-Flite. All proceeds from the contests will benefit Fun Books for Kids.

The pro-am entry fee for professionals is $50, and $75 for amateurs. A portion of the amateur fee and 50 percent of the gold, silver and bronze sponsorships will be donated to Fun Books for Kids. Four dollars of each professional entry fee will be donated to the Professional Golf Association of America charity fund.

Representatives of Fun Books for Kids will be on hand to discuss their organization's mission. The public is welcome to attend the tournament.

For information about purchasing a sponsorship, call Lubke at 218-562-7177 or Fun Books for Kids, Inc. at 218-562-4441.