Wisconsin State Open begins Monday in Minocqua

The Wisconsin State Open showcases some of the best golfers in the state each year. It’s coming to the Northwoods’ backyard this year.

Minocqua Country Club is hosting the 104th Suter Ward Group Wisconsin State Open from Monday through Wednesday.

“It’s awesome,” Minocqua Country Club head golf professional Dave Kemnitz said. “To showcase our fantastic course to the best golfers in the state of Wisconsin, the entire membership’s thrilled to welcome the golfers here and see them take on the course so we’re very excited.”

It’s the first time the Wisconsin State Open has ever been played at Minocqua Country Club.

“We have never hosted the State Open,” Kemnitz said. “We previously hosted the Wisconsin State Amateur Championship in 2018. So this is a different organization that runs this event. This is run by the Wisconsin PGA (Professional Golfers Association), and so we’re very excited about it. It’s basically the best amateurs and professionals in the state.”

Kemnitz mentioned Minocqua Country Club is up to par as far as course conditions. 

“I think it’s the golf course. The golf course is fantastic,” Kemnitz said when asked what drew the event to the Minocqua Country Club. “The course conditions are phenomenal, the layout — it’s a unique layout. Every hole is its own amphitheater. It’s pure golf out there so I think that makes it just a great fit for what they’re looking for.”

Assistant Executive Director of the Wisconsin PGA Chris Hoel said the organization is happy to bring the Wisconsin State Open up north.

“It’s in a terrific location that people look forward to going to in northern Wisconsin,” he said. “That’s a great appeal. Last year we were at SentryWorld in Stevens Point and to bring it a little further north to Minocqua Country Club just kind of shows the championship is for all of Wisconsin.”

The Northwoods scenery wasn’t the only reason Minocqua Country Club was chosen as the backdrop for the State Open.

“It’s a fantastic golf course, very well-conditioned,” Hoel said. “The staff and membership embrace having events, and those are the most appealing factors to us. The welcomeness of having the event out there, conditions, it’s a demanding golf course, and it’ll test the players for sure.”

Minocqua Country Club isn’t changing much out on the golf course. They’re sticking to what makes it great.

“They selected Minocqua Country Club for a reason because they love the golf course,” Kemnitz said. “They’re not asking us to do anything out of the ordinary. Different from normal, everyday-member-play, the greens will probably be a little bit faster, and the rough will be a little bit longer, but other than that, no major changes. They’re coming here because they like our golf course and want to see that on display.”

The Wisconsin State Open is open to the public. People can come over and take in the event.

“The public is welcome to come out and watch,” Kemnitz said. “I think typically you’ll see a lot of friends and families of the players out spectating so we’re anticipating some spectators, not an overwhelming amount.”

Parking is limited, but Minocqua Country Club will be directing spectators to designated areas where they’ll get a short ride over to the course.

“We have some limitations with our parking so we have the parking in our golf shop and clubhouse area will be restricted for players and rules officials only,” Kemnitz said. “And then just off-site we’ll have some parking available for spectators and caddies and family and will be shuttling them in on golf cart shuttles. It’ll be maybe a five-minute shuttle ride onto the grounds of the club. As people drive to Minocqua Country Club, we’ll direct them. It just borders the golf course. It’ll be very easy to see.”

There are 156 players in the field this year. Cameron Huss of Kenosha is looking to defend his title from last year. He won as an amateur at last year’s State Open held at SentryWorld in Stevens Point when he shot a 2-under 282.

    In this July 26, 2018 file photo, Harrison Ott hits his approach shot into the 18th hole during the final round of the Wisconsin State Amateur at Minocqua Country Club. The Wisconsin State Open will be held at Minocqua Country Club Ott will likely be one of the favorites, with two wins and a runner-up finish in the tournament over the last four years. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Recent past champions Daniel Mazziotta of Wisconsin Rapids (2022 champion) and Harrison Ott from Brookfield (2020-21) are also in this year’s field. Not only did Ott win in 2020 and 2021, he also finished runner-up last year, three strokes behind Huss.

“It’s really going to put a premium on ball striking,” Hoel said about the course. “Peopler are going to have to hit the ball straight out there. The best ball strikers in the field are going to be the ones that will probably rise to the top. That plays into Cameron Huss and Harrison Ott’s hands as previous champions. They both have won the State Open on golf courses that demand you hit the golf ball very well — Harrison winning at Blue Mound and Blackwolf Run. All those places you have to really hit your golf ball well and make sure you’re hitting it in the right spots.”

Huss and Ott aren’t the only golfers competing for the title.

“Obviously, the field isn’t just limited to these two guys,” Hoel said. “There’s plenty of other great players that can come out and win it. There’s a lot of people that can be in the mix come Wednesday afternoon, and it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. It’s a very good field with a lot of talented golfers. There’s several people that can be right up there at the top in the end.”

Ott is no stranger to Minocqua Country Club. He won the 2018 Wisconsin State Amateur there, defeating Thomas Longbella following an eight-hole playoff. He’s back, looking for another win.

“I think that it’s going to deliver a great championship in terms of who the winner’s going to be. Harrison Ott won the Wisconsin State Amateur in one of the longest playoffs in the history of the event,” Hoel said. “He ... has an advantage from that standpoint. There’s several amateurs that played in that state amateur. I’m sure they are going to welcome and embrace the fact that the championship is at Minocqua Country Club.” 

Local golfers from the field include Lakeland Union High School alumnus Kyle Bengtson from Scottsdale, Ariz., Jerry Collins from Minocqua, Mike Murphy from Minocqua and Minocqua Country Club’s own Kemnitz.

Each player will play 18 holes on Monday and Tuesday. The field will then be pared to the low 60 and ties who will play the final two rounds Wednesday.

It’s all hands on deck. Members of Minocqua Country Club will be participating as volunteers.

“We got a membership — they’re very proud of the club, proud of the golf course, and they’re excited to open the doors for the rest of the state,” Kemnitz said. “Actually got about 50 of our members that are volunteering for the event doing various tasks — spotting balls out on the golf course, kind of helping with the parking, filling divots, stuff like that. It should be a fun week, forecast looks great. We’re excited like I said.”

Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].