Dennis Grall photo Chuck Thiry, a native of Escanaba, stands by a photo display of previous Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass winners Thursday at Island Resort & Casino. Cleveland golf, and Thiry, a company vice-president, is the biggest sponsor of the Symetra Tour event that began today.

HARRIS — How neat is this? Chuck Thiry gets a paid trip home every year thanks to his work with Cleveland golf.

The Escanaba native has been an integral part of all nine Island Resort Championships at Sweetgrass, and anyone who has played in a pro-am can vouch for his work. Every amateur in the Wednesday or Thursday pro-ams gets to spend $200 certificates they receive for participating in the event.

They have a choice of golf clubs (drivers to putters), clothing, balls, travel bags and golf spikes. If the cost of their selections exceeds the free certificate, the golfer pays for the extra.

Thiry is vice-president for strategic partnerships for the higher level XXIO portion of the company in Huntington Beach, Calif. Cleveland and Srixon equipment are also available before the pro-am. The companies are major sponsors of the annual tournament, and that connection has allowed Thiry to bring his products to some other Symetra tournaments as well.

He began working as customer rep for Green Bay native Mark King when he started Taylormade, one of the industries’ premier leaders, spending nine years in San Diego. He has been with Cleveland for 20 years.

“He gave me my first couple of breaks,” Thiry said of King.

Thiry worked his way up to regional rep for Taylormade, before moving to Cleveland, another prominent member of the industry.

“I can’t think of anywhere I go that I enjoy more,” Thiry said of spending the Symetra Tour week at Sweetgrass Golf Club and visiting family and friends. “I love coming back. I appreciate it a lot.”

He also brings various customers along for the tournament, and also takes them golfing at Sage Run Golf Club, in its’ second season as part of the Island Resort golf complex. Iron Mountain TimberStone and Marquette Greywalls, two other highly rated courses who work closely with Sweetgrass, may also host his group.

“I’ve never taken a customer here who hasn’t enjoyed it,” said Thiry.

That is easy to understand because they are treated so well, and they get to play some magnificent courses. “They are as good as you are going to get. They are world-class golf courses. We have great courses in the Upper Peninsula, and they are affordable,” Thiry said.

Tony Mancilla, co-director with Sue Harris of this tournament and general manager of Island Resort & Casino, pointed out pro-am players can try out possible purchases at the driving range before the 1 p.m. events begin.

“That is a big part of the pro-am experience,” said Mancilla. “They are our biggest tournament sponsor.”

Thiry and Sweetgrass director of golf Dave Douglas, also an Escanaba native, were roommates when they attended the San Diego Golf Academy about 30 years ago. That connection helped bring Thiry here for the Symetra Tour event.

Island Resort & Casino financial officer Scott Herioux said “they are very generous. He is a big supporter of this area. He likes the event because we are promoting golf in the area. He gives back to us because we try to support golf.”

The tournament, boasting a record 156 players, began this morning. It will be cut to the top 60 players and ties after Saturday’s round, which starts at 7:30 each day.

The top two finishers will qualify to play in the LPGA Tour’s fifth major championship, the Evian, in France.

One of the entrants is Netherlands native Dewi Weber, whose coach is John “Gus” Koskinen of L’Anse, a former U.P. Golf Association men’s champion.

There is a $200,000 purse, with the winner receiving $30,000, from the 12th stop of the season.