113th Wisconsin State Amateur Championship | Sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen

Wisconsin Golfer SPECIAL EDITION

ALEX’S

AM GAUGERT RALLIES TO WIN STATE AMATEUR

113th Wisconsin State Amateur Championship | Sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen JULY 21-24, 2014 | OZAUKEE CC, MEQUON, WIS. | CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP

The 113th Wisconsin State Amateur Championship A SPECIAL LOOK BACK This past week, Ozaukee CC was the setting as many of the state’s top golfers competed in the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen.

Wisconsin Golfer magazine is taking a look back at the 113th championship with this special digital edition. Recount how Alex Gaugert was crowned champion starting on Page 6, and turn to Page 18 to see the scoring for all the golfers who made the cut.

Wisconsin Golfer is the official publication of the Wisconsin State Golf Association. This special edition is one of four to be produced

this season. In June, a special edition was published highlighting the WIAA State Boys Golf Championship. Upcoming special editions will focus on the Wisconsin State Open in August and the WIAA State Girls Championship in October.

This digital publication is brought to you by the WSGA, Wisconsin State Amateur Championship sponsor CliftonLarsonAllen and Killarney Golf Media, Inc. Please click here for the latest edition of Wisconsin Golfer and to also register for your free subscription.

2 | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN

Will Joiner, left, caddied for teammate Brandon Cloete in rounds three and four.

COLLEGE CONNECTIONS The Wisconsin State Amateur always attracts a plethora of talented college players, but this year’s event was perhaps a bit unique.

For starters, eight of the 12 players on the 201415 Marquette University roster were in the field, including fifth-place finisher Zach Gaugert. Right above him on the leaderboard were University of Wisconsin player Matt Ross and Joe DuChateau of UW-Green Bay, and several of their teammates were also in the field. And the top two finishers were former University of Minnesota player Alex Gaugert and current UW assistant coach Robbie Ziegler.

Still, the MU contingent was a bit unique at this year’s State Amateur. It included Brandon Cloete,

a native of South Africa, and Patrick Sanchez, a native of Mexico. Nick Nelson of Iowa and Will Joiner of Tennessee also played.

MU assistant coach Mike Bielawski admitted it was no accident. He said head coach Steve Bailey encourages players to stay in Milwaukee for the summer, plus a few of the players are working internships and caddie jobs in the Milwaukee area.

“We love it when they stick around (in summer),” Bielawski said.

According to Wisconsin State Golf Association eligibility rules, non-resident WSGA members can play the Wisconsin State Amateur as long as they agree not to participate in another state’s major amateur championship.

4 | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN

Tim McCormick, left, and Mike Murphy

HAWKS LANDING WINS CUP Hawks Landing GC in Verona won this year’s Yule Cup, awarded to the team winner of the first two rounds of the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship.

The Hawks Landing team won the Yule Cup with a three-man, 36-hole aggregate score of 22-over-par 442.

Representing Hawks Landing were Tim McCormick, who shot 73-71–144; Mike Murphy, who recorded scores of 77-70–147 and Kenny Rucker, who shot 76-75–151.

Brown Deer GC finished second at 444, while host Ozaukee CC was third at 452.

The Yule Cup has been contested at the Wisconsin State Amateur since 1909. Click here for complete results.

Todd Craft, left, & Joel Hess

A PROUD SPONSOR Along with tournament sponsorship comes a host of participation opportunities for employees and executives.

Accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen, in its fourth year of sponsoring the State Amateur Championship, truly takes a hands-on approach, with volunteers from the firm coming out each day to help with registration and live scoring, as well as the awards presentation.

Working closely with WSGA executive director Rob Jansen to maximize the event, the CLA team was once again pleased with how it all turned out. “It was a wonderful event,” said Todd Craft, managing principal of the southern Wisconsin offices. “(The WSGA) does a great job.”

As an added bonus, “We had a chance to play the course as part of our sponsorship,” said Joel Hess, business development advisor.

Both Hess and Craft experienced first-hand the challenges of the tough Ozaukee CC course. “We have a lot of empathy for the players because it is a hard course,” said Craft. “We definitely lost a lot of balls in our round.”

Alex Gaugert

Joe DuChateau

Robbie Ziegler

Matt Ross

Gaugert wins with closing 68

FORMER MINNESOTA PLAYER MAKES UP FOUR-SHOT DEFICIT After his final round as an amateur Thursday at Ozaukee CC in Mequon, Alex Gaugert admitted he had never recorded a hole-in-one.

Gaugert was discussing his tee shot on the par-3 14th hole in the final round of the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen. The shot, with a 7-iron, stopped a foot away from the cup on the 171-yard hole, and even though it didn’t go in, it was one of the tournamentwinning shots for the recent college graduate.

“It landed just right of the flag and I heard somebody scream a little bit,” Gaugert said. “I thought I made it. It was cool. I never had a hole-in-one before, so that would have been sick.”

Gaugert, who plays out of Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva, was feeling fine Thursday afternoon, and he didn’t even need the ace. Thanks primarily to his fast start Thursday, when he reeled off four birdies over the first five holes, Gaugert was able to chase down leader Robbie Ziegler of University Ridge GC in Verona.

Gaugert won the 113th Wisconsin State Amateur with a total of 6-over-par 286 (72-73-73-68), two strokes clear of Ziegler, the assistant men’s coach at the University of Wisconsin. Ziegler, who entered the final round with a three-stroke lead, shot rounds of 66-71-77-74.

The tournament set-up – on a course with tight fairways and undulating greens – gave players fits all week. Zach Gaugert, Alex’s cousin who tied for fifth place, admitted he was drained after four rounds at Ozaukee CC.

“It’s hard when you’re on a course where you just slowly give one shot away after another, and you never really get them back,” he said. “It wears on you. It was grueling.”

Said Matt Ross of The Legend Clubs, who tied for third after a final round 69: “You gotta put it in the fairway – the rough’s so long out here. The (hole locations) were very difficult, but I never found one that was unfair.”

Ziegler on the other hand, suggested some of the hole locations were borderline.

“Today was a little easier,” Ziegler said after the final round, “but overall the pins were … they were pretty crazy, to be honest. I mean, you’re playing defense with wedges in your hands. It’s not crazy hard tee-to-green here. The defense is the greens. But everyone had to play the same course.”

Meantime, Alex Gaugert had a mostly stress-free final round. He made double-bogey on the tough par-4 eighth hole, which played almost like a par-5, and added two bogeys. His card also showed six birdies.

“For some reason I got the correct numbers all day, and I was pin-high all day,” said Gaugert, who employed his sister Annie as his caddie. “Some days you’re just in-between clubs.”

Gaugert had to convert a dicey 10-footer for par on 17 after he ran his first putt past the hole. And he missed the fairway on 18 but came up with a clean lie that allowed him to hit an 8-iron to twoputt range. He tapped in for the win.

Ziegler kept it close over the final holes. He hit a hybrid from a fairway bunker on the par-5 15th to

SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | 7

the front edge of the green and converted a two- Gaugert in the penultimate paring, also shot 79 and tied for 11th. Johnson, of Pleasant View GC in Midputt birdie that left him one behind Gaugert.

Needing birdie on 18 to tie, Ziegler’s drive sailed dleton, plays collegiately at New Mexico State.

Gaugert, who was a member the left, his approach went right and he University of Minnesota team that eventually settled for bogey.

Behind Alex Gaugert (286) and “For some reason won the Big Ten championship a Ziegler (288), Ross and Joe I got the correct couple months ago, will now turn pro. But he has something a little DuChateau of South Hills G&CC in numbers all day, different planned.

Fond du Lac tied for third at 291.

“In December, I’m moving to South Ross plays at the University of Wisand I was pinAfrica,” he said. “One of my best consin and DuChateau is a member high all day.” friends lives there, and I’m going to of the UW-Green Bay team.

Tyler Schmude, a former player – ALEX GAUGERT live with him and try to play the Sunshine Tour.” at Winona State who plays out of After a final-round 68 on a course that left little Rock River Hills in Horicon, was in the final pairing with Ziegler, but he shot 79 and fell into a tie for margin for error, you might say Gaugert’s future is, 11th place. Mitchell Johnson, who played with indeed, sunny.

Alex Gaugert and sister, Annie

A FAMILY AFFAIR It was a Gaugert family reunion of sorts at this year’s State Amateur Championship – where golf runs thick in the family genes.

Tournament champion Alex Gaugert, a former Minnesota Golden Gopher, was accompanied by his younger sister Annie on the bag. Annie is a junior on the Valparaiso University women’s golf team. Watching closely from the gallery was their father Jim, who played for the University of Wisconsin and is a PGA professional.

Absent was Alex’s older brother Austin, a former Valparaiso University golfer, who took fourth at last year’s State Am and has since turned pro. Austin and Jim will be joined by Alex in the PGA pro ranks, as he plans to turn pro at the upcoming Wisconsin State Open.

Joining Alex in the State Amateur field was seoncd cousin Zach Gaugert, who had his mother Heidi as his caddie. Zach and Alex’s fathers are first cousins.

Tyler Schmude

Ricky Kuiper Mitch Wittmann

Mitchell Johnson

Brandon Cloete

Joe Weber

Tim McCormick

Zach Gaugert

Chris Colla Nick Nelson

Robbie Jacobsen

Patrick Sanchez

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Mary Anne & Peter Wawrzyn

PASSING THE TORCH When the email went out to Ozaukee CC members asking for volunteers to be standard bearers at the State Am, Mary Anne Wawrzyn jumped at the chance to give her grandson the opportunity.

According to Mary Anne, Peter Wawrzyn, age 13, has always been interested in all aspects of golf. An avid golfer herself, she helped get a young Peter started in the game by setting up a course in her front yard. “We set up ‘Wawrzyn Woods’ with old tee markers the greenskeeper gave us,” said Mary Anne.

A stickler for the rules, Peter once called out his grandma for teeing it up in front of the markers. Confident his passion for the game will drive him to pursue a career in golf, she laughed and told him, “Say something about me when you dedicate your first golf course.”

Pat Boyle

Mark Bemowski

CHAMPS IN THE FIELD With 2014 champion Jordan Niebrugge withdrawing a few days before the tournament, there were four past Wisconsin State Amateur winners in the field. (See below, listed with the years of their victories.) The quartet has won the championship 11 times between them, but they all missed the cut this year.

Mark Bemowski 1976, ’81, ’84, ’97, ’99, 2005 Pat Boyle 2000, ’04 Mike McDonald 2011 John Pallin 1975, ’78 SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | 13

JUST HAVING FUN After the tournament ended, runner-up Robbie Ziegler, whose day job is University of Wisconsin assistant coach, was asked if he took the opportunity to do some recruiting at the State Amateur, where plenty of talented high school players tee it up.

The answer is no.

“This is just kind of a fun thing for me,” Ziegler said of playing the State Am. “Luckily, (head coach Michael Burcin) is really cool, and he lets me come out once in a while between recruiting.

This week it was just about me, so I just enjoyed myself and I’m glad I could get away from watching golf and play some golf.”

Robbie Ziegler

2007 CHAMPION

Travis Meyer

Past Champions Alex Gaugert joins an exclusive group of individuals who can call themselves Wisconsin State Amateur champions, The Wisconsin State Amateur, sponsored in recent years by CliftonLarsonAllen, debuted at Sinissippi CC (today’s Janesville CC) in 1901. It was held under a match play format until 1970, when it was switched to a 72-hole stroke play tournament.

16 | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN

1992 CHAMPION

Jason Samuelian

1985 CHAMPION

Steve Stricker

1996 CHAMPION

Mark Wilson

YEAR PLAYER

2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971

SCORE SITENT SITE

Alex Gaugert, Grand Geneva Resort & Spa 286 Jordan Niebrugge, The Bull at Pinehurst Farms 282 Brady Strangstalien, Viroqua Hills GC 282 Mike McDonald, Blackstone Creek 285 Jordan Elsen, Kenosha CC (54 holes) 209 Tyler Obermueller, River Falls GC 288 Ben Bendtsen III, Racine CC 281* Travis Meyer, River Falls GC 283 Daniel Woltman, Old Hickory CC 284* Mark Bemowski, Johnson Park GC 284 Pat Boyle, Naga-Waukee GC 293* Brian Brodell, Butte des Morts CC 275 Ryan Quinn, Cedar Creek CC 273 Ryan Quinn, Cedar Creek CC 281 Pat Boyle, Johnson Park GC 290 Mark Bemowski, Johnson Park GC 283 Bob Gregorski, Branch River CC 287 Mark Bemowski, Johnson Park GC 287 Mark Wilson, Oconomowoc GC 279 Bob Gregorski, Branch River CC 290 Tom Strong, Tuckaway CC 288 Tim Cantwell Jr., Western Lakes GC 288 Jason Samuelian, Meadowbrook CC 287 Casey Brozek, Brown County GC 290 Ron Wuensche, Lakeshore GC 279 David Miley, North Hills CC 284 J.P. Hayes, Butte des Morts CC 283 Skip Kendall, Brynwood CC 291 J.P. Hayes, Butte des Morts CC 291 Steve Stricker, Towne CC 291 Mark Bemowski, Johnson Park GC 294 Jeff Bisbee, Stevens Point CC 291 Craig Brischke, Maple Bluff CC 281 Mark Bemowski, Johnson Park GC 287 Greg Dick, Princeton Valley GC 283 Tom Schurman, Blackhawk CC 290* John Pallin, South Hills G&CC 283 Alex Antonio, Ozaukee CC 283 Mark Bemowski, North Hills CC 284 John Pallin, South Hills G&CC 284* Archie Dadian, Oakwood Park GC 285 Jeff Radder, Sheboygan Pine Hills CC 285 Doug Weiss, Odana Hills GC 291 George Madsen, Johnson Park GC 300

* – Denotes playoff victory

Ozaukee CC The Bog Club at Strawberry Creek Maple Bluff CC Bull at Pinehurst Farms Merrill Hills CC Old Hickory CC Bristlecone Pines GC Mascoutin GC Brown County GC The Bog Blue Mound G&CC Nakoma GC Eau Claire G&CC Racine CC Brynwood CC La Crosse CC North Shore CC Cherokee CC Milwaukee CC Janesville CC Blackhawk CC Meadowbrook CC Westmoor CC Oneida G&RC Ozaukee CC Sheboygan Pine Hills CC Maple Bluff CC West Bend CC Bull’s Eye CC Racine CC Merrill Hills CC Butte des Morts CC Blue Mound G&CC Lawsonia GC North Hills CC Wausau CC Brynwood CC Stevens Point CC Tripoli CC Branch River CC Kenosha CC Maple Bluff CC Milwaukee CC

Tournament Results

COMPLETE SCORES FOR THE PLAYERS WHO MADE THE CUT AT THE WISCONSIN STA 1 Alex Gaugert 72 73 73 68 286 Grand Geneva Resort & Spa ______________________________________________ 2 Robbie Ziegler 66 71 77 74 288 University Ridge GC ______________________________________________ T3 Matt Ross 76 75 71 69 291 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T3 Joe DuChateau 74 73 72 72 291 South Hills G & CC ______________________________________________ T5 Zach Gaugert 73 70 75 75 293 The Meadows of Sixmile Creek ______________________________________________ T5 Joe Weber 70 73 75 75 293 La Crosee CC ______________________________________________ T7 Henry Klongland 73 78 72 71 294 Stoughton CC ______________________________________________ T7 Kyle Henning 73 77 73 71 294 Wanaki GC ______________________________________________ T9 Mike Murphy 77 70 76 72 295 Hawks Landing GC ______________________________________________ T9 Brandon Cloete 69 74 76 76 295 Brown Deer Park GC ______________________________________________ T11 Tom Boockmeier 76 77 73 70 296 Royal Scot GC ______________________________________________ T11 Steve Sass 71 76 76 73 296 Brown Deer Park GC ______________________________________________ T11 Mitchell Johnson 70 73 74 79 296 Pleasant View GC ______________________________________________ T11 Tyler Schmude 71 72 74 79 296 Rock River Hills GC ______________________________________________ T15 Mitch Wittmann 75 74 78 70 297 Fox Valley GC ______________________________________________ T15 Wil Wittmann 75 70 79 73 297 Fox Valley GC ______________________________________________ T15 Andrew Cobb 71 75 78 73 297 Maple Bluff CC

T15 Christopher Colla 68 74 79 76 297 Whispering Springs GC ______________________________________________ T19 Jared Magoline 74 79 73 72 298 South Hills G & CC ______________________________________________ T19 Owen Butler 74 77 74 73 298 Trappers Turn GC ______________________________________________ T19 Tim McCormick 73 71 79 75 298 Hawks Landing GC ______________________________________________ T19 Brent Wong 74 76 70 78 298 Whitnall Park GC ______________________________________________ T19 Ben Skogen 72 75 73 78 298 Coulee Golf Bowl ______________________________________________ T24 Nathan Colson 73 79 75 72 299 Ozaukee CC ______________________________________________ T24 Jonathan Fall 70 77 76 76 299 Ozaukee CC ______________________________________________ T26 Josh Smith 79 72 75 74 300 The House on The Rock Resort ______________________________________________ T26 Ricky Kuiper 76 72 75 77 300 Wisconsin PGA Junior GC ______________________________________________ T28 Max Murphy 75 74 77 75 301 Bishops Bay CC ______________________________________________ T28 Gene Kiela III 76 75 74 76 301 Pine Hills CC ______________________________________________ T28 Nick Nelson 72 77 75 77 301 Brown Deer Park GC ______________________________________________ T31 Kenny Rucker 76 75 77 74 302 Hawks Landing GC ______________________________________________ T31 Sam Van Galder 74 71 80 77 302 Janesville CC ______________________________________________ T31 Sam Madsen 74 72 78 78 302 Blackhawk CC ______________________________________________ T31 Matt Behm 74 74 75 79 302 Janesville Riverside GC

18 | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN

ATE AMATEUR T35 Bruce Henning 74 80 79 70 303 Wanaki GC ______________________________________________ T35 Matthew McIntosh 75 76 78 74 303 Washington County GC ______________________________________________ T35 Peter Webb 78 73 73 79 303 Blackhawk CC ______________________________________________ T38 Ed Dzirbik Jr. 78 75 77 74 304 Westmoor CC ______________________________________________ T38 Kevin Van Rossum 75 75 76 78 304 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T40 Eric Anderson 78 75 80 72 305 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T40 Charles Maleki 73 80 75 77 305 Ozaukee CC ______________________________________________ T40 Robbie Jacobsen 73 76 76 80 305 Racine CC ______________________________________________ T43 Sam Frank 73 81 78 74 306 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T43 Kaylor Steger 83 71 75 77 306 Johnson Park GC ______________________________________________ T43 Aaron Gavin 76 78 74 78 306 Oakwood Park GC ______________________________________________ T43 Daniel Simonsen 75 78 73 80 306 Fire Ridge GC ______________________________________________ T47 Daniel Ozga 75 75 81 76 307 Edgerton Towne CC ______________________________________________ T47 Tyler Egnarski 74 77 78 78 307 Watertown CC ______________________________________________ T47 Garrett Gosh 77 77 75 78 307 Brown Deer Park GC ______________________________________________ T47 Tom Halla 78 75 75 79 307 Naga-Waukee GC ______________________________________________ T47 Patrick Sanchez 75 77 74 81 307

T52 Bill Kujawa 77 75 78 78 308 Oakwood Park GC ______________________________________________ T52 Travis Ruzek 73 77 76 82 308 The GC at Branch River ______________________________________________ T54 Chapin Orr 72 75 84 78 309 Dodge Point CC ______________________________________________ T54 Josh Udelhofen 73 81 78 77 309 Platteville G & CC ______________________________________________ T54 Jake Dunn 78 76 76 79 309 Drugan's Castle Mound CC ______________________________________________ T54 John Fitzgibbon 75 77 75 82 309 River Club of Mequon ______________________________________________ T58 Jason Zahradka 74 80 81 76 311 New Richmond GC ______________________________________________ T58 Steffen Lake 77 75 81 78 311 Bishops Bay CC ______________________________________________ T60 Logan Kranz 74 76 86 77 313 Hawks Landing GC ______________________________________________ T60 Michael Kerns 76 77 83 77 313 Wisconsin Club ______________________________________________ T60 Nathan Gilbert 75 76 82 80 313 Koshkonong Mounds CC ______________________________________________ 63 Adam Fazio 74 80 80 80 314 Blue Mound G & CC ______________________________________________ T64 Corey Sweeney 78 76 83 78 315 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T64 Curt Langille 79 75 82 79 315 Geneva National GC ______________________________________________ T66 Jack McKinney 77 77 83 81 318 The Legend Clubs ______________________________________________ T66 Austin Resop 72 81 81 84 318 Mascoutin GC

Brown Deer Park GC VIEW COMPLETE RESULTS

SPONSORED BY CLIFTONLARSONALLEN | 113TH WISCONSIN STATE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP | 19

NEXT UP: ERIN HILLS Next July, the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship sponsored by CliftonLarsonAllen, will be played for the first time at Erin Hills in Erin, which also just happens to be the venue for the 2017 U.S. Open Championship.

The 117th U.S. Open will be the third United States Golf Association championship contested at Erin Hills, following the 2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship and the 2011 U.S. Amateur.

But first, the 114th Wisconsin State Amateur will

EDITORIAL OFFICE: 1435 E. Main St. Madison, Wisconsin 53703 (608) 280-8800 Toll-free (800) 685-0036 www.wisgolfer.com

be played at Erin Hills, a still relatively new golf facility that opened in 2006. Built on a massive piece of rolling, windblown land and featuring large putting surfaces, Erin Hills has the look of a major championship venue. It was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Dana Fry and Ron Whitten.

Since Erin Hills has sets of tees ranging from 5,109 to 7,812 yards, Wisconsin State Golf Association tournament officials will have no shortage of options with setting up next summer’s State Amateur venue.

PUBLISHER John Hughes | jhughes@wisgolfer.com

ON THE COVER: 2014 Wisconsin State Amateur Champion Alex Gaugert. (Photo by David Cohn.)

GENERAL MANAGER Jim Kelsh | jkelsh@wisgolfer.com

All photos by Rick Pledl and Erin Eagan

EDITOR Rick Pledl | rpledl@wisgolfer.com

Brought to you by the Wisconsin State Golf Association and published by Killarney Golf Media, Inc.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Erin Eagan | erin@wisgolfer.com SENIOR DESIGNER Ali Head | alihead@wisgolfer.com SALES EXECUTIVES Jenny Hallett | (608) 661-7647 jenny@killarneygolfmedia.com Ed Eckhardt | (608) 661-7646 ed@wisgolfer.com

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