July 25, 2018 at 3:16 p.m.
Local golfers struggle at State Am
Local golfers struggle at State Am
Virtually every local player in the field was heading home early after failing to make the 36-hole cut Tuesday afternoon, which fell at 9-over-par.
The only local player to make the final two rounds was Eagle River's Garth Glister, who made the cut on the number at plus-9.
All three of Rhinelander's State Am hopefuls - Josh Willis, Ben Opsal and Kass Schoppe - were eliminated after 36 holes.
Willis shot a pair of 78s to finish at 12-over. Opsal finished at 14-over and Schoppe was 15-over. All three were playing in their first State Amateur and said they enjoyed the experience, despite the premature ending.
"It's a great event, great course, really well-run tournament," Opsal said. "I don't get a chance to play in a lot of tournaments like this - official rounds, four-rounds, low-cut. It's good to get out here every now and then and play in a real tournament."
Added Schoppe, "It's been a while since I've played in a competitive setting like this. I guess some of my play showed that. I knew I had to go a lot lower than I did yesterday but it was just erratic - a lot of birdies then doubles following them."
Willis said he could never get comfortable with his putter on Minocqua Country Club greens that were running a blistering 12 1/2 on the stimpmeter. He shot matching 39s on each nine during Monday's opening round. He played the back nine in 40 on Tuesday and shot 38 on the front.
"I was trying to chip and putt and the putter didn't work for me today," Willis said. "If I could have made some putts I could have definitely been playing with these guys tomorrow but, oh well. There's always next year."
Opsal was going along nicely at 2-over through his first 15 holes on Monday, but he played his final three holes in 4-over. A 43 on the back nine Tuesday afternoon put an end to his hopes of playing the final two rounds.
"That definitely hurt, a three-putt and then 17 and 18 I just missed where you can't miss - short sided in the bunker, and didn't get up-and-down from either," Opsal said of Monday's finish. "That was kind of a sour note to end a decent round on, especially after having started a little slower and turning it around."
Schoppe was paired in the same group with Kaukauna's Brock Hlinak, who was tied for third at 4-under through 36 holes. Schoppe said the way Hlinak was able to overpower the 6,750-yard course impressed him.
"I'm hitting a driver and his 2-iron's as far as my driver. They're long, scary long," he said.
Despite the struggles, all three said they would be interested in playing in the State Am again, especially if it's close to home like this year's event was.
"This was a lot of fun. This was my first State Am and I can't wait to hopefully do it next year," Willis said.
Lakeland Union High School golf coach Scott Howard was one of 12 players left on the outside looking in when 70 players exactly finished at 9-over or better. The low 70 and ties qualified for the final two rounds. Howard missed the cut by one stroke, derailed by a triple bogey on the 11th hole during the second round.
Merrill High School junior-to-be Russell Dettmering finished at 11-over, Minocqua Country Club pro shop assistant Drew Zimmerman finished at plus-19 and Minocqua Country Club president and club champion John Hogan finished at 20-over.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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