ELKHART — The dates are circled on the calendars of many players every year.

This Friday at Meadow Valley in Middlebury, Saturday at Christiana Creek in Elkhart and Sunday at Bent Oak in Elkhart, the Elkhart Golf Association will stage what longtime player and tournament committee member Bill Searcy calls “Elkhart’s U.S. Open” — the 81st annual Greater Elkhart Men’s Golf Championships.

The 102-player field features many players in the top three flights who have played in the championship flight in past city tournament. Nine of the past 10 champions — Jon Bonfiglio (2011), Gavin Wilkinson (2007, 2010), Eric Lebold (2008, 2009), Pat Mohan (2003, 2004, 2006) and Jeff McBride (2002) have signed up to play this year.

“Interest in golf in Elkhart is so good,” said Searcy. “About 50 percent of the field has an index of 10 or less and about 50 percent has an index of 10 or higher. That means we are appealing to a complete range.”

Searcy also notes that the field is young. It is full of high school and college and recent college golfers.

That includes Bonfiglio.

“It’s always a good time to be able to play with old high school and college teammates,” said Bonfiglio, a 2005 Concord High School and 2009 Bethel College graduate who now works for grandfather and city tournament player Ed Freel at Kampo Steel Products. “Some of us play together a lot,” said Bonfiglio. “For some of us, it’s the first time we’ll be seeing each other in awhile.”

Bonfiglio is glad to see the final round at Bent Oak — his home course when he was a Concord Minuteman.

“It’s always nice to play there for the final round,” said Bonfiglio. “There are a lot of friendly faces supporting you.”

Searcy offers advice to those golfers concerned about the pace of tournament play.

“It just takes a little longer when all balls have to go in the hole (there are no gimmes),” said Searcy. “Just be patient and enjoy yourself.”

Greater Elkhart Men’s Golf Championships

First & Second Round Tee Times

(At Meadow Valley Friday; Christiana Creek Saturday)

8 a.m.: Jon Bonfiglio, Dan Hood, Eric Lebold, Gavin Wilkinson.

8:10: Bill Searcy, Mark Landis, Bruce Ballow, Mike Stock.

8:20: Drew Conner, Steve Stone, Frank Iavagnilio, Bill Marcin.

8:30: Kyle Miller, Robbie Brown, Brady Klotz, Logan McBride.

8:40: Pat Mohan, Ralph Montagano, Steve Ambrose, Jeff Losee.

8:50: Leo Ladehoff, Alex Happer, Zac Henderson, David Long.

9:00: Scott Ladehoff, Billy Bridwell, Thomas Patterson, Matt Peterson.

9:10: Dan Holden, Aaron Patrick, Sam Rodino, Brian Ulrich.

9:20: Tom Smith, Brian Checkley, Lance McKinney, Chad Sotebeer.

9:40: Riley Keagle, Noah Strati, Phil Ummel.

9:50: Alex Brosh, Braden Sherwood, Karl Miller.

10:00: Mark Belmonte, Ed Mast, Dan Demeyer Dave Shenk.

10:10: Jeff Pressinell, Jeffrey Sager, Drew Stutz, Steve Stewart.

10:20: Dave Crise, Chris Horoky, Jason Timm, Jeffrey Douglas.

10:30: Gary Martin, John Zerbe, Robert Stockman, Jerry Crawley.

10:40: Rocco Lisa, Jim Stansbury, Don DuBois, Bryan Russell.

10:50: Derek Bryant, Josh Davidhizar, Geoff Hahn, Ryan Ullery.

11:10: Mark Chapman, Mitchell Wilson, Tony Magyar, Michael King.

11:20: Chris Grathen, Alan Griffin, Jeff Magyar, Rick Stayton.

11:30: Keith Gingerich, Thy Moeun, Tim Johnson, Donald Storms.

11:40: Robbie Wilson, Jack Dodson, Nathan Bellamy, Mike Platz.

11:50: Jim Lindsey, Jeff Hoeppner, Ron Oldenburg, Timothy Sigsbee.

Noon: Rock Mohr, Daniel Schrock, Phillip Frampton, Randy McDowell.

12:10: Robert Dorsam, Dave Vollmar, Ed Freel, Mike Lapp.

12:20: John Altum, Richard Rood, Tim Emmons, Greg Byrkett.

12:30: Alejandro Genis, Ray Reed, Carl Craig, Schmille Barhams.