WISCONSIN STATE
WOMEN’S OPEN
TITLE SPONSOR
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Write-up provided by Wisconsin.Golf and Rob Hernandez – robhernandez.golf@gmail.com
Images provided by Krisjanis Kaugars of the Wisconsin State Golf Association
ONALASKA — A visa snafu forced Chloe Chan to enter the Sentry Wisconsin State Women’s Open this week as an amateur, but if the former University of Wisconsin golfer plays the kind of golf she did Wednesday she’ll be cashing checks as a professional golfer just as soon as that time comes.
In fact, it could come as soon as this weekend.
Chan had no sooner closed the books on a wire-to-wire State Women’s Open victory at La Crosse Country Club than she was set for another long drive — this one to Harbor Springs, Mich., where she will make her Epson Tour debut Friday at the Great Lakes Championship at The Highlands. She has conditional status on the LPGA Tour’s top developmental circuit as a result of her reaching the second stage of LPGA Tour/Epson Tour Qualifying School last fall.
“I just kind of wanted to kick-start my summer,” Chan said of entering the event. “I’ve signed up for Epson events and I’ve been on a wait list. I didn’t know when I’d be getting my first start, but then I was told (Tuesday) that I’ll be playing this weekend up in Harbor Springs. I’m super-excited for it.”
Indeed, Chan looked sharp in every phase of her game Wednesday in firing one of only two sub-par rounds on the day (Beaver Dam’s McKenna Nelson had the other) with at 1-under-par 71. Her 54-hole total of 2-under 214 was good for a three-stroke victory over second-round co-leader Sophia Connett, the women’s golf coach at UW-Stout in Menomonie who closed with a 74.
Current Badgers golfer Kate Brody (75) finished third at 3-over 219 while former UW golfer Bobbi Stricker (72) was the low professional at 6-over 222. Brookfield’s Payton Haugen (73), a Michigan State commit, was the low high schooler at 8-over 224 and despite the passage of recent Name, Image & Likeness rules by the WIAA was only able to accept a dozen Titleist Pro-V1s.
“I felt like the round was pretty good, pretty smooth,” said Chan, who played bogey-free golf for her first 16 holes with birdies at Nos. 3, 8 and 14 before finishing bogey-bogey. “I don’t know if it was fatigue or a little bit of nerves coming in, but just a poor tee shot on (No.) 17. And then I just misjudged my tee shot on (No.) 18 and left myself with a long shot coming in. I couldn’t really see where the flag was at from my position, but I did a pretty good job prior to the last two holes. I just gave myself comfortable chances.”
Connett, whose only remaining outfit to make the trip was a white top with a red skort, blended right in with her playing-partner Badgers past and present.
She looked the part with her clubs, too, especially for not having played much competitive golf for the last two-plus years since graduating the University of Missouri in 2023. Between taking the coaching position at Stout under director of golf Andrew Delong and beginning a job as an assistant at Eau Claire Golf & CC in Altoona (with designs on starting the Professional Golf Management program), she had only recently geared up for this event.
“It was pretty fun,” Connett said. “I’ve been playing a little bit at Eau Claire, where I work. But I’d say there were a lot of nerves on the first tee. I hit my first drive in the water, but it was fun to get back competing. You know, I took about a 2½-year break so it was just fun that I could still compete a little bit.”
Bogeys at Nos. 1 and 4, coupled with Chan’s birdie at No. 3, knocked Connett three shots off the pace and the gap never got closer than the final margin. Connett slipped into third after she bogeyed No. 10 and Brody birdied it, but Connett regained control of second place with birdies at Nos. 12 and 14.
“It was kind of the same game-plan I had the two days before,” Connett said. “I just hit fairways and hit greens. I hit a lot of greens, but didn’t hit as many (Wednesday). Kind of the difference between today’s round and (Tuesday’s) was three-putts. I had three three-putts (Wednesday) and I had one in the previous 36 holes. I think they sped up the greens a little so my speed was a little off. … I’m not really playing with any pressure right now and that’s kind of fun. I’m used to having all kinds of expectations, but people (here) don’t even really know who I am so that’s kind of fun.”
#####
A great deal of gratitude goes out to Sentry Insurance for their continued title sponsorship of the Wisconsin State Women’s Open. With their support along with supporting partners, The Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley and TaylorMade Golf, the Wisconsin PGA provided another great week of golf and competition for all the participants.
The Wisconsin PGA would also like to express our appreciation to the staff and membership at La Crosse CC Country Club. The club is always a willing host, and once again they did a great job of providing all the support that was needed to run a high-level championship.