Early entries to this year’s TrueNorth Greater Cedar Rapids Open, presented by Granite City Food & Brewery, are making for a very interesting field.

For the first time ever the tournament will host a PGA Tour winner when two-time former champ Derek Lamely joins the battle for the $25,000 first prize at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion. Lamely, who will be 37 when he tees off later this month, won the GCRO in 2005 and again in 2008.

In 2009, Lamely earned playing rights on the Nationwide Tour (now the Web.com) and he won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational in a playoff against Rickie Fowler. He qualified for the PGA Tour based on money winnings and won the Puerto Rico Open his rookie year in 2010. He was a candidate for Tour Rookie of the Year.

But poor play and a nagging thumb injury derailed his career. He missed 18 of 26 cuts in 2001 and 18 of 25 events in 2012. He had his first thumb surgery in February 2013 and had a second surgery later that year.

Lamely is a Bellville, IL. Native and makes his home in Ft. Myers, FL. Lamely also won the 2008 Waterloo Open. Read more at here.

Paul Apyan, the likeable 2015 GCRO champ from Chattanooga, TN., will give it another try this year. Apyan was the wire-to-wire winner two years ago at Hunters and was tied for the lead after two rounds last year before faltering in Saturday’s final round. He finished in a tie for sixth. Apyan has had some success in the PGA’s Latinoamerica Tour and continues to chase his dream of playing on the PGA Tour.

Another blast from the past returns in Steve Friesen, who contended several times early on at the GCRO. Friesen, from Cave Creek, AZ., went on to play on the Web.com Tour several years and won the 2011 Price Cutter Charity Championship, presented by Dr. Pepper.

More news coming as more entries come in.

The tournament begins with three pro/ams on Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26. The tournament officially begins Thursday, July 27 and continues Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. There will be a cut after Friday’s second round. The public is welcome.