This Year Marks a New Exemption Category and a Multi-venue Tournament for the Wisconsin State Open
West Allis, WI (June 10, 2021) – The Wisconsin Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (WPGA) presents a collection of award-winning venues for the 2021 Wisconsin State Open Series: Blackhawk Country Club (Madison), Blackwolf Run (Kohler), Lawsonia (Green Lake), and Pine Hills (Sheboygan). For the first time a Wisconsin State Open event will be hosted on two courses at two different golf venues and a new exemption category for the champion of the Wisconsin State Women’s Open.
“From Sheboygan to Green Lake to Madison, the players will most certainly be impressed and challenged as they try to win some of the top prizes in Wisconsin golf,” said Chris Hoel, Assistant Executive Director of WPGA.
2021 Wisconsin State Open Series
June 15-16 – 25th Wisconsin State Women’s Open on the Links Course at The Golf Courses of Lawsonia (Green Lake)
August 16-18 – 101st Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open on the Meadow Valleys Course at Blackwolf Run (Kohler) and Pine Hills Country Club (Sheboygan)
September 7-8 – 37th Wisconsin State Senior Open at Blackhawk Country Club (Madison)
The marquee event of the series, the 101st Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open will be a multi-venue tournament for the first time with rounds on the Meadow Valleys at Blackwolf Run in Kohler and on Pine Hills Country Club in Sheboygan on August 16-18. Previously the State Open has been held on two separate 18-hole courses but the two instances took place all on one property. In 1991 Blackwolf Run showcased the relatively new River and Meadow Valley courses. Then in 2019 Geneva National Resort & Club hosted on the Trevino and Palmer courses, plus the event featured an expanded 204 player field. The 2021 edition will mimic that field size. In 2020 Blue Mound G&CC hosted a 156-player field.
First on the calendar for the 2021 State Open Series is the Women’s Open. The 25th Wisconsin State Women’s Open will be hosted on the Links Course at The Golf Courses of Lawsonia in Green Lake on June 15-16. As of 2021, The Winner of the Wisconsin State Women’s Open Will Be Invited to Play in The Wisconsin State Open in August. In March 2021, the WPGA announced an additional exemption for the 2021 Wisconsin State Open Championship, voting unanimously to provide the 2021 Wisconsin State Women’s Open Champion with an exemption into the field. The champion will have until early-July to register for the event.
“It’s a great idea and an incredible opportunity for the winner of the Women’s Open. The WPGA is definitely demonstrating their commitment to player development and growing women’s golf. The players will be excited!” said Maggie Leef, Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame member and multi-time Wisconsin Women’s Player of the Year and multi-time Wisconsin Women’s Senior Player of the Year.
“It is our hope that this year’s champion decides to accept the exemption to play in the Wisconsin State Open which will in turn help create more interest for female golfers to participate in the Wisconsin State Women’s Open and the Wisconsin State Open,” said Matt Taken, WPGA Tournament Policy Board Chair and PGA of Tuckaway Country Club (Franklin).
The third and final event in the three tournament State Open Series is the 37th Wisconsin State Senior Open on September 7-8, hosted for the first time at Blackhawk Country Club in Madison. Notably the previous six Senior Open champions have been Wisconsin PGA Professionals, which follows a five-year streak of amateur champions.
For more information on the Wisconsin State Open Series visit https://wisconsin.pga.com/state-opens/.
About the Wisconsin State Open Series
Annually the Wisconsin PGA conducts three of the major golf events in the state, the Wisconsin State Open Series. The oldest and largest of the three championships, the Wisconsin State Open, dates back to 1919 and has been contested every year, except for a two year stretch during World War II. The list of venues is impressive, ranging from classic designs such as Blue Mound G&CC and Milwaukee CC to modern gems like Blackwolf Run and The Bog. The event winners are a list of who’s who in the history of golf in Wisconsin. PGA Tour veterans including Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker and Mark Wilson have all captured the title. The other two championships are relatively new compared to the Wisconsin State Open but are building a history of their own and feature the best female and senior golfers in the state on a year by year basis. The Wisconsin State Open Series is supported by The Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley and TaylorMade Golf.
About the Wisconsin Section PGA
The Wisconsin Section is one of the 41 sections that comprise the regional entities of the PGA of America. Over 500 members and associates belong to the Wisconsin Section, stretching from areas in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to almost the entire state of Wisconsin. Annually, the Wisconsin Section conducts over 40 professional events, operates its Junior Golf Foundation and participates in several growth-of-the-game activities (PGA Junior League, Drive, Chip and Putt and instructional clinics/days). Wisconsin PGA Office is located at 11350 W. Theo Trecker Way in West Allis, Wis.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of nearly 28,000 male and female golf professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The organization serves millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives and award-winning golf promotions.