SPENCER — Thursday marked the beginning of the biggest golf tournament in northwest Iowa, the 100th Northwest Amateur at Spencer Golf and Country Club, action got started at 6:30 a.m. tee time. It was a chilly start to the tournament with temperatures in the high 50s to begin play.

Players from all over Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota are scheduled to participate in the competition, with a contestants from as far away as Roseville, California.