BUCHANAN — After winning its first-ever Leader Cup golf championship, the Cassopolis Rangers are looking to become the third team in the tournament’s eight-year history to go back-to-back.

The Rangers will be joined by Niles, Buchanan, Dowagiac and Edwardsburg at Orchard Hills Country Club Monday morning to compete for the title.

The Eddies were the first team to win consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019. The Vikings duplicated the feat in 2021 and 2022.

The tournament, sponsored by Leader Publications, was founded in 2016 after former Buchanan Coach Amelio Rodriguez came up with the idea of the six teams in the newspaper’s coverage area playing for a title since not all of them competed against each other during the regular season.

There was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID 19.

Edwardsburg and Niles are tied with three victories each. Dowagiac and Brandywine are still seeking their first championship.

The Leader Cup is a Ryder Cup style event with nine holes of two-person best ball and nine holes of two-person captain’s choice.

The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

In winning its first title, Cassopolis shot 238 to edge defending champion Niles, which shot 241. Edwardsburg was third with a 248, Dowagiac fourth with a 250, Buchanan fifth with a 289 and Brandywine sixth with a 317.