WATERLOO - Randy Schafer sounded slightly frazzled - yet excited - Tuesday.

"Today is such a crazy day," said the chairman of the 2007 Waterloo Open golf tournament, set for this weekend. "We've got a waiting list for both sides of the tournament.

"We've got to make sure we're crossing our 'Ts' and dotting our 'Is'."

Then, Schafer punctuated his statement by pointing out the fact there's a whole host of new players in the event this year, especially in the professional division.

"There's always professionals that hear about our tournament and want to be a part of it - $35,000 has a lot to do with it," he noted. "It's a two-day shootout."

While a full tournament field of 192 pros slug it out for an oversized paycheck, this week's amateur competitors will field an overflow crowd. An extra tee time was added to accommodate that division, which is typically capped at 272.

And, in the pro-sponsor portion of the Open, which officially starts the week's festivities Thursday morning, 78 teams will take to the course at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course. That figure, according to officials, is at least five groups bigger than last year's total.

The annual pro-sponsor event will be followed by a long-drive competition at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, the pros take to the course at Irv Warren, with tee times starting as early as 6:45 a.m. A hole-in-one contest for eligible pro-sponsor competitors is set for approximately 6:30 Saturday evening, with a potential $1 million prize offered up by Miller Lite.

Then, in Sunday's final round, the top pros and amateurs will pair up and try to tear up Irv Warren's par-72, 6,194-yard track.

Neither the amateur nor the pro contingent will be hurting for star power.

Last year's amateur champion, Jamie Frazier, isn't in this week's field, but local standouts like Matt Lowe and Scott Morgensen are - as well as virtually an entire roster of Northern Iowa Panthers.

The pro field will feature each of the past three tournament champs - Scott Hart (2006), Brett Melton (2005) and Jerod Turner (2004).

And, players with PGA experience will also dot the pro lineup. Sean McCarty, a past U.S. Open participant, will venture up I-380 from his home in the Iowa City area. Also, Waterloo native Brock Mulder, who competed in last weekend's John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities, will try to wow the home crowd.

This year's Open is hard to handicap. Yet, the odds of entertaining action seem favorable.

"Talking to the guys, they love this tournament," noted Irv Warren head pro Andy Devine. "They come back, and the people of Waterloo treat them right.

"The people are very golf-knowledgeable in Waterloo. They appreciate good golf."

And, if this tournament field has strength in numbers, we'll probably see some this weekend.

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com

Need-to-know info …

What: 74th annual Greater Waterloo Open

Who: 192 pros, 276 amateurs

When: Thursday-Sunday (pro-sponsor Thursday-Friday; amateurs Friday-Sunday; pros Saturday-Sunday)

Where: Pro-sponsor at Irv Warren; amateurs at Gates Park and South Hills Friday-Saturday, at Irv Warren Sunday; pros at Irv Warren

Waterloo Open tee times

Pro/Sponsor event

(x-denotes professional)

THURSDAY

Tee No. 1

10 a.m. - x-Corbin King (Round Rock, Texas), Drew Conrad, Jake Schafer, Chris Dolan, Caple Spence

10:10 a.m. - x-Robin Byrd (Fayetteville, N.C.), Tom Kneeland, Randy Schafer, Joe Fuller, Chris Overturf

10:20 a.m. - x-Mike Lewis (Oelwein), Keith Dahlstrom, Dave Rogers, Shawn Vroman, Brian Ballheim

10:30 a.m. - x-Curt Saathoff (Orlando, Fla.), Andy Miller, Craig Davis, Jay Schares, Jon Hoppes

10:40 a.m. - x-Greg Mason (Dike), Jim Sulentic, Wally Sulentic, Joe Sulentic, Tom Sulentic

10:50 a.m. - x-Aaron Krueger (Waterloo), Gordy Bell, Bill Sinnot, Ax Haugen, Len Lybbert

11 a.m. - x-Mike Belich (West Allis, Wis.), Mark Knief, Steve Nemmers, Tom Simon, Mike Kneif

11:10 a.m. - x-Cody Ebert (Lakewood, Colo.), Ryan Ratchford, Steve Ferguson, Jon Eichhorn, Mark Kies

11:20 a.m. - x-Matt Sevigny (Camden, S.C.), Mark Reifenrath, Adam Lewis, John Lynch, Jason Heafner

11:30 a.m. - x-Shelby Chrest (Olds Alberta, Canada), Terry Schoppe, Mike Bruskern, Mike Doyle, Steve Tyler

11:40 a.m. - x-Skip Holton (Waterloo), Rick Morris, Bob Buckley, Don Teymer, Dexter Wilson

11:50 a.m. - x-Steve Thomas (Tupelo, Miss.), George Warren, Jim Skarlis, John Adams, Terry Butz

Noon - x-Daren Fisher (Pella), Terry Timmerman, Wade Chalstrom, Jeff Sesker, Jim Youngblut

12:10 p.m. - x-Shawn Willis (Englewood, Colo.), Brian Solberg, Joel Flug, Todd Richardson, TBD

12:20 p.m. - x-Yong Joo (Mauretown, Va.), Paul Nelson, Ryan Sheridan, TBD, TBD

12:30 p.m. - x-Kane Hanson (Detroit Lakes, Minn.), Keith Sanvold, Jeff Sanvold, Bill Maiers, Scott Davis

12:40 p.m. - x-Jordan Arnold (Dahlonega, Ga.), Gary Knudson, Jack Dusenberry, Chris Hyers, Kent Opheim

12:50 p.m. - x-Marvin King (Boca Raton, Fla.), Corey Lorenzen, Greg Vandersee, Joe Englekes, Rick Morkel

1 p.m. - x-Jon Mansfield (Northbrook, Ill.), Steve Haas, Todd Slater, Mark Milburn, Mike Young

1:10 p.m. - x-Joe Demory (Sterling, Ill.), Gene Leonhart, Brian Rushing, Lee Wimes, Greg Wagoner

1:20 p.m. - x-Peter Sisich (Spokane, Wash.) Kelly Anderegg, Ben Thompson, John Monaghan, Mark Funk

1:30 p.m. - x-Emanuel Worley (Calumet, Ill.), Jim Engler, Greg Holcomb, Mark Miller, Matt Sallee

1:40 p.m. - x-Steve Enriquez (College Station, Texas), Mark Suchy, Tom Klein, Jim Neundorf, Dan Jenkins

FRIDAY

Tee No. 1

6:30 a.m. - x-Todd Rodemich (Quincy, Ill.), Ron Abbott, David Morrow, Brian Hogle, Rick Fangman

6:40 a.m. - x-John Lieber (San Diego, Calif.), Tim Connelly, Steve Johnson, Travis Mattoon TBD

6:50 a.m. - x-Greg Slack (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Nick Zuback, Dave Morgan, Matt Smiley, Steve Kaiser

7 a.m. - x-David Ping (Omaha, Neb.), Colter Snaders, Darrin Oppman, Tom Lowe, Jon Kienroth

7:10 a.m. - x-Mike Stolarskyj (Omaha, Neb.), Hugh Field, Bud Field, Matt Gardner, Dave Sussoug

7:20 a.m. - x-Robert Olds (Waterloo), Martin Dwyre, Sean Abbas, Dave DeHaven, Ronan Schwickerath

7:30 a.m. - x-Barry O'Neill (Columbia, Ill.), Dustin Thorson, Doug Koht, Tony Fischer, Tom Sinnott

7:40 a.m. - x-Brian Carroll (Crystal Lake, Ill.), Steve Husome, Joel Flung, Brian Larson, Wade Chalstrom

7:50 a.m. - x-Jason Swihart (Jackson, Mich.), TBD, Casey McGlaughlin, Paul Creeden, Jeff Bergman

8 a.m. - x-William Morgan (Laurenburg, N.C.), Dennis Tieszen, Bob Jordon, Ben Newport, Gene Thompson

8:10 a.m. - x-Chad Delaney (Sanford, N.C.), Frank Kneeland, Pete Meehan, Seth Miller, Pat Melchert

8:20 a.m. - x-Monte Meyer (Cedar Falls), Bill McIntee, Terry Evans, Jesse Meehan, Neil Wilkinson

11:30 a.m. - x-Dave Narveson (Princeton, N.J.), Dave Nagle, Bob Leuenberger, Rich Frink, Tim Jamerson

11:40 a.m. - x-Heikke Nielson (Denver, Colo.), Vern Nelson, Bob Sikma, Ben Caughron, Erick Nelson

11:50 a.m. - x-Steve Reilly (Waterloo), Jim Schuman, John Warren, Doug Miller, Mike Zierath

Noon - x-Sean McCarty (Solon), A.C. Charparo, Bob Molinaro, Steve Nelson, Rex Smith

12:10 p.m. - x-Jack Rule (Lone Tree, Colo.), Richard Sulentic, Ken Nelson, Francis Pardoe, Gary Carter

12:20 p.m. - x-Brock Mulder (Dallas, Texas), Corey Vesley, Bryan Blonigan, Dave McKowen, Dan Lichty

12:30 p.m - x-Gary March (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Jim Owens, Joe Morris, Dave Barnes, Mark Larson

12:40 p.m. - x-Dave Schultz (Fargo, N.D.), Darwyn Pals, Jim Moore, Chuck Seager, Bob Flanigan

12:50 p.m. - x-Andrew Medley (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Tim Hamaan, Chuck Herold, Megan Quinn, Lon Albetins

1 p.m. - x-Jeremy Olds (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Sam Buser, Rick Garcia, Kerry Lindsey, Sam Porter

1:10 p.m. - x-Tim Dudley (Sommerset, Ky.), Roger Tompkins, Trent Tompkins, Sam Genolous, George Skarlis

1:20 p.m. - x-Brady Schnell (Davenport), TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD

1:30 p.m. - x-Ryan McClintock (Monmouth, Ill.), Mark Heth, Dennis Schmidt, Josh Schmidt, Chris Scuffham

1:40 p.m. - x-Troy Martin (Omaha, Neb.), John Huff, Tim Weaver, Lesley Ortner, TBD

1:50 p.m. - x-Bobby West (Watertown, S.D.), Jeremy Yoder, Nick Elliott, Ed Dickens, Matt Barrett

2 p.m. - x-Nick Schenk (Geneva, Ill.), Bryan Guthrie, Josh Droegmiller, Matt Loesche, Travis Heinbuch

Tee No. 10

6:40 a.m. - x-Jay Reynolds (Austin, Texas), Scott Buss, Erik Buss, John Thiele, Chris Fereday

6:50 a.m. - x-Doug Ferris (Lando Lakes, Fla.), Mike Colombo, Todd Cassidy, Ed McClure, Mark Evers

7 a.m. - x-Fred Sutton (Boise, Idaho), Rick Hartzell, Bill Salmon, Rick Nelson, Leon Costello

7:10 a.m. - x-Ted Scott (Opelousas, La.), Kendall Drape, Mike Johnson, James Mills, Mark Woltz

7:20 a.m. - x-Jay Story (St. Peters, Mo.), John Benton, Dana Cooke, Wayne Snyder, Ron Rabune

7:30 a.m. - x-Jason Beach (Los Alamitos, Calif.), Chris Michels, Roger Yoder, Pete Weber, Chris Beaty

7:40 a.m. - x-Ernie Hill (Palm Desert, Calif.), Dennis Hansen, Ron Garris, Rob Bitter, Mike Mallaro

7:50 a.m. - x-Courtney Cox (Glen Pool, Okla.), Jim Burns, John Unsen, Tom Schrage, Don Hoth

8 a.m. - x-Alan Weant (Germantown, Tenn.), Dave Rohle, Craigh Wickham, John Bunge, George Cooley

8:10 a.m. - x-Bill Sakas (Northbrook, Ill.), Steve Brewer, Tracey Rokes, Pat Galles, Dave Bontrager

8:20 a.m. - x-Brian Coe (St. Lous, Mo.), Ryan Slater, Blair Newport, Steve Haas, Todd Slater

11:30 a.m. - x-Scott Hart (W. Des Moines), Ron Bendell, Dve Kazynski, Mike Kloos, Kelly Wolf

11:40 a.m. - x-Ben Pettit (Carroll), Jerry Keiderling, John Gallagher, John Carter, Derek Etjen

11:50 a.m. - x-Connie Pierce (Oklahoma City, Okla.), John Boardsen, Brad Werkmeister, Glenn Stech, Kevin Mishler

Noon - x-Rusty Stocker (Homosassa, Fla.), Jim Phillips, Tony Beuter, Kent Dierks, Tom Barber

12:10 p.m. - x-Gary Rusnak (Santa Rosa Beach, Calif.), Tim Hoffman, Dax Miller, Van Miller, Chris Miller

12:20 p.m. - x-John Bermel (Cedar Falls), Dan Deery, Austin Deery, Daina Deery, Abby Bermel

12:30 p.m. - x-John Perna (Chicago, Ill.), John Deery, Jerry Gehrke, John Deery, Jr., RichHoewing

12:40 p.m. - x-Adam Luehmann (Cedar Falls), Doug Christensen, Jason Conder, Mark Conway, Frank Malone

12:50 p.m. - x-Brett Melton (Washington, Ind.), Kim Kehe, Tim VanDenberg, Scott Grapp, Jeremy DeBoef

1 p.m. - x-Craig Czerniejewski (Watertown, Wis.), John Schall, Tim Sulentic, Nick Sulentic, Dave Czerniejewski

1:10 p.m. - x-David Games (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Steve Lind, Mark Rollinger, Bruce Gettman, Mark Baldwin

1:20 p.m. - x-Steve Dougherty (Overland Park, Kan.), Andy Miller, Doug Keller, Tim Vaske, Bernie Umthum

1:30 p.m. - x-Kyle Monfort (Cincinnati, Ohio), Mark Gardner, Ron Spree, Dave Neuendorf, Dave Leonhart

1:40 p.m. - x-Simon McGreal (Greensboro, N.C.), Mike Lamb, Max Lamb, David Lamb, Jim Hauer

1:50 p.m. - x-Mark Lemon (Solon), Sheldon Rokusek, Jerry Hanker, Tom Friedman, Brad Metcalf

2 p.m. - x-Zach Doran (Dublin, Ohio), TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD