Anytime prestige, prize money, and a playoff are on the line at The Egan at Bend Golf Club, drama is bound to unfold.

The Egan Championship, held June 25-27, 2026, at the Bend Golf Club, is an annual men’s member-guest tournament that features 144 players across 12 flights competing to have their names engraved on The Egan Trophy.

The tournament derives its name from two-time U.S. Amateur champion and renowned golf architect Chandler Egan, who designed the club's initial nine holes in 1925.

The event culminates in a highly anticipated "horse race" with hundreds of members and spectators following the action, culminating in the five-hole horse race. Teams played five 9-hole rounds in their flight, then a Stableford-selected drive Scotch a sixth round to determine the top group from each flight who advanced to the horse race playoff, along with three wild card teams.

The overall 2026 Egan Champions were a wild card team from the second flight in Matt Muralt and Steven Boyles, who won the five-hole horse race on hole 9, with a par in the true alternate shot format.

“The Egan is what I look forward to the most when thinking about all the golf tournaments during the year,” Muralt, who has been a member since 2019, said. “Luckily, we made the horse race as a wildcard winner.”

Before the horse race playoff, Bend Golf Club Superintendent Scott Moffenbeier and his team mowed and rolled the greens, pushing them past 13 on the Stimpmeter. They also cut new hole locations in demanding spots, adding to the drama. The horse race played holes 10, 12, 15, 8, and finished on hole 9, a par five.

Everyone plays holes 10 and 12, counting their total aggregate and eliminating four teams after the first two holes. They played the par 5 15th hole and eliminated four more teams, the par 4, 8th hole eliminating four more teams, leaving three teams for the final hole.

“We ended up being the only team to have to play the back (black tees) on hole 8 which I proceeded to hit a terrible high cut, luckily not going into an unplayable spot, Steve had to punch out to 120 yards, I laid up just short of the green, we made bogey and got into a chip off with two other teams that made bogey as well,” Muralt said. “Steve made a great chip to move us to the last hole playing against Jon Koller, Barry Nelson and their partners.”

“I again hit a bad drive to the right while the other two teams bombed their drives down the middle, allowing them to go for the green in 2. My partner Steve hit a great shot to about 130 yards out. Both the other teams left their second shots short. I hit our 3rd shot to the front of the green. One team hit their 3rd over the green, leaving a really tough shot to a back pin that slopes hard from back to front.

“They missed the green on their 4th, hit it to the front of the green close to ours on their 5th, then two putted for a double bogey. The other team putted 12 ft past the pin on their 4th again, leaving a really hard downhill sliding putt for par, which they missed as they made double bogey.” Muralt said. “We ended up with a 6-foot downhill slider for par that I cozied it up to the cup, not wanting to lip out and leave Steve with a tough putt, and Steve finished off with a 10-inch putt to win. Such a rush!”

John Koller and his partner Phil Bretsch placed in horse-race terms, or second place, while Berry Nelson and Tom Morefield showed or took third place in The Egan.

A core tradition of The Egan is its massive, hand-painted wooden tournament scoreboard. Bend Golf Club meticulously maintains a classic, physical board outside the clubhouse during the event. Members and spectators explicitly call it a "special place" that serves as the social focal point of the weekend.

“So many members, staff, and other spouses were so kind in congratulating us and making us feel special,” Muralt said. “This is the 5th time Steve and I have played in this event. We are both so competitive that winning it all meant a lot!

“This tournament is so well run on such an amazing course. I truly believe we have the best greens in Oregon! An incredible team that puts on this event, great food, great drinks, and we wrap up the tournament with a fantastic dinner, music, and dancing.”

True shoes were the main tee prize for participants who had their names laser etched into their new golf shoes at the event.

"The Egan is one of our favorite events of the year. It's an all-hands-on-deck week for the entire crew, and a bonding week for staff and members alike. For 101 years, Bend Golf Club has been member-owned and managed, and this tournament shows exactly why that matters. Every member and staff person is part of the fabric of this event. It's truly an honor to be part of it." BCC Membership Director Bevan Nicolaisen said.

With various banquets and a band at the awards ceremony, the Bend Golf Club provides a unique championship event for members and guests to enjoy in a nod to the former designer of the original nine holes, Chandler Egan.

This year marked the first time The Egan Championship teamed up with Cold Stream Design, a local craftsman, to create handmade custom putters made specifically for the event. Dubbed "Made in Bend" flatsticks, these custom-milled putters go home with the champions, whose names are also etched on the permanent Egan Trophy.

“Thankfully, one of them will now be displayed in my home.” Muralt explained. “The best part of the event to me is the people – both players and those that put in on. I feel like we are one big family at BGC. So many people worked on this event and all of the players really appreciate their hard work!”

The Egan crowned its new 2026 Champions and celebrated of one of Oregon’s most historic golf clubs.