The seniors roll into town this week for the 16th Annual 3M Championship at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine.

Yesterday was the Ameriprise Pro-Am, which will be followed by the Coldwell Banker Burnet Pro-Am Wednesday and Thursday. Today is a practice round day that includes two skills challenges and a junior pro-am at noon. Championship play runs Friday through Sunday.

Tickets Monday-Thursday are $15, while the championship rounds are $30. Tickets can be purchased at any Spire Federal Credit Union location or at the gate.

From the tournament website:

In 2007, the 3M Championship donated $1,300,000 to programs at Allina’s Abbott Northwestern, United, Mercy and Unity Hospitals. To date, the 3M Championship has raised over $13,000,000 for charity. The tournament is one of the largest donors on Tour and the largest sports-related charity in Minnesota. Charitable proceeds expect to exceed $14,000,000 in 2008.

Yesterday my wife Colleen defended her capstone/thesis project at the University of Minnesota and found out afterward that she is now officially done with her masters program in health journalism.

I know firsthand how hard it is to work full-time and go to school–but I never had two kids to deal with too for my degree. Colleen worked extremely hard for this and we are very, very proud of her.

After all the signatures were obtained and the form dropped off with the graduate office (just in time for an official July 31 graduation date), we visited the shoe tree on the west bank before heading to Al’s Breakfast for a celebration lunch.

Congrats!