Archive for June 2023

The stage is set and SentryWorld is ready to put on a great show for the best golfers in the world 50 and over. It has been approximately two and half years since the the USGA awarded the U.S. Senior Open to SentryWorld and the event week is finally here. The course has previously held the 1986 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, 2019 U.S. Girls’ Junior and numerous WSGA and WPGA championships. Later this August the course will also host the 103rd Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open.

The great golf from Michael Crowley continued on Monday as he earned his first one-day WPGA Classic win since 2005. The Morningstar GC head PGA professional has been on an impressive run for the past three and half years and Monday was another example of his terrific play. Crowley was one of fifty-three WPGA professionals that made the trek to The Club at Lac La Belle to tee it up in WPGA Classic #3. For a lot of the players, it would be their first look at the layout since Craig Haltom led a redesign of the layout in 2019.

The WPGA Four Player Pro-Am Series made its second appearance in the month of June on Monday. A solid turnout of twenty-eight teams from throughout the section would make their way to The Bull at Pinehurst Farms. It turned out to be another fantastic weather day and the field was greeted with superb course conditions at the Jack Nicklaus layout. Although the players had those two factors in their favor they still would have their hands full with one of the toughest courses in the state. Add in the fact that they were playing the one net / one gross best ball format, the field had their work cut out for them.

High-level tournament golf is as much a test of players’ mental abilities as it is physical, as the one-two finishers at this week’s Sentry Wisconsin State Women’s Open Championship can attest. In one corner stood 26-year-old Tess Hackworthy, who shot a disappointing round of 79 in the second round Tuesday. But Hackworthy went home and got her thoughts in order after shooting that score, and she came out firing Wednesday morning in round three, leading to a superb round of 68.

One of the best Wisconsin PGA traditions made its annual appearance on the WPGA calendar of events on Monday. Over 70 WPGA professionals would travel to South Hills G&CC for the 52nd playing of the Hornung’s Classic. Once again the day was filled with plenty of camaraderie and competition.

The 18-hole stroke play would be another tightly contested event. With breezy and sunny conditions an emphasis would be on solid ball striking.

For the third year in a row the WPGA would kick off the month of June with a pro-am stop at The Club at Strawberry Creek. The site has gained in popularity quickly and established itself as a must play for the regulars on the pro-am circuit. This year’s X Golf Strawberry Creek Pro-Am would sell out in just four minutes after registration opened on April 1. For those that were lucky enough to gain a spot in the field, the day would feature some terrific weather and pristine course conditions. The course played firm and fast, exactly the way it was designed.