Asher Golf Tour’s Bakersfield Open returns Feb. 10-14 at Bakersfield Country Club

A professional golf tour event expected to feature several of California’s top players is scheduled to take place Feb. 10-14 as the Asher Tour’s $140,000 Bakersfield Open returns to the par-71 Bakersfield Country Club course.

First-round tournament play begins Feb. 12 with split tee times from 7:20 to 8:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Round 2 is set for Feb. 13 with the same tee time splits and, after a cutdown to only 35% of the field, the remaining golfers, with leaders playing last, tee off from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Feb. 14 in the final round.

The winner of the tournament gets $30,000. The Asher Tour, formerly known as the Golden State Tour, lists the event as one of its major events of the season.

Leading up to tournament play is a pro-am event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 and a practice round day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 11.

While the full tournament field has not been announced, one scheduled entrant is Michael Block, a longtime club professional at Arroyo Trabuco Canyon Golf Club in Mission Viejo who garnered attention by making the cut and finishing in the top 15 at the 2023 PGA Championship, a major PGA tournament, at age 46.

Block is playing in the Bakersfield Open for the first time and is participating under a sponsor’s exemption from Grapevine MSP.

Last year’s open was won by Devon Bling from Ridgecrest’s Del Rio Country Club. Bhavik Patel, a four-time Bakersfield Open champion, including 2023, is a former Korn Ferry Tour player who graduated from Bakersfield High and Fresno State.

“This event is a major draw for Bakersfield,” Patel said in a tournament press release. “It showcases the talent we have here and attracts top-tier players. Many golfers who have competed in this tournament over the years are now playing on the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Latino America and PGA Canada.”

The Bakersfield Open has been a proving ground for future PGA Tour stars. Past participants include Sahith Theegala, winner of the 2023 PGA Tour’s Fortinet Championship, and Jake Knapp, who won the PGA Tour’s 2024 Mexico Open.

The Bakersfield Country Club, located in northeast Bakersfield, has hosted numerous professional and top local golf events over the years. It was designed by renowned architect William P. “Billy” Bell.

The Bakersfield Open has numerous title sponsors: Double Eagle Golf, Motor City Buick GMC, Motor City Lexus, UCI Construction Inc., Trinity Safety Co., Grapevine MSP and Mary Trichelle.