PRO-PRO SCRAMBLE
EVENT PARTNERS
(Tom Boockmeier, Del Kolasinski of Callaway Golf & David Spengler Jr.)
Recent history shows the Wisconsin PGA always closes their in-state tournament schedule with the Pro-Pro Scramble. For the first time in decades the Wisconsin PGA was set to shift gears from that plan but Mother Nature got involved. When the 2018 schedule was released the Callaway Pro-Pro Scramble was moved to the spring for the first time and was scheduled to be the opening tournament of the year. An almost record setting amount of snow in April ended up derailing that idea. The event had to be pushed back six months into a fitting spot, closing out the 2018 slate on Monday at The Oaks GC. The wait proved to be well worth it as they day featured some nice fall weather and a fantastic 104 player turnout.
With reachable par 5s and greens rolling true the large field set their sights on possibly needing the elusive score of 59 to get the win. In the end the winning score came up just short but two of the top squads in the field were able to post 10-under-par 61s in regulation to force some playoff golf. The twosomes of Tom Boockmeier and David Spengler Jr. along with Mick Smith and Mark Voeller were each able to birdie their way to the score.
With daylight fading and the possibility of a tie looming the twosomes started off the playoff on the par-4, 8th. The hole featured a couple of a good chances for birdie but in the end the ball did not want to go down, as both teams lipped out their putts. Next up was the 522 yard par-5, 9th. With each group playing from the fairway the stage was set for some great ball striking. Both Smith and Spengler Jr. hit terrific shots that carried the ridge in the middle of the green and ended up 12 feet from the pin. The advantage looked to be in Smith and Voeller’s favor as they were slightly closer to the hole and set to get the exact read on their eagle putt from Boockmeier. However that advantage was quickly taken from them as Boockmeier buried his eagle putt and put the pressure on Smith and Voeller to match. With the tournament on the line the duo would not convert and as the final putt slid by Boockmeier and Spengler Jr. knew they had claimed the win.
In addition to the two player scramble the day also featured the WPGA Card Sharks Shootout. Taking a page from the popular game show of the 80s teams had to navigate their way through a higher / lower game of cards. If they did they were entered in an after player closest to the pin contest. Nine teams proceeded to the par 3, 7th as they tried to knock it close. In the end it was the final group that stole the show. Blackhawk CC’s Matt Hartmann hit it to 7 feet 6 inches, to help him and Jon Zellmer claim $200 apiece.
Helping make the day and contest possible were our great event partners, Callaway Golf and Haas-Jordan. The twosome was very understanding throughout the rescheduling process, which made a tough task a lot easier. A big thank you goes out to both companies and their representatives Del Kolasinski (Callaway Golf) and Mark Bearby (Haas-Jordan) for their continued support.
A great deal of appreciation also goes out to The Oaks and PGA Director of Golf Shaun Finley. The club did a terrific job of hosting which included being very flexible and accommodating throughout the rescheduling process. They also provided a ton of leeway when it came to the postponement back in the spring, and letting the WPGA wait until the last minute to pull the plug on the event.