SPRING PRO-PRO
BETTER BALL
EVENT PARTNERS
(Jim Gaugert of Harris Golf Cars, Chad Sandee & Andy Smith)
The Wisconsin PGA season continued Monday, as 52 teams of WPGA members and associates gathered at West Bend Country Club for the Spring Pro-Pro Better Ball.
With the tournament doubling as the qualifier for the season-long Four-Ball Match Play Championship, the stakes were elevated throughout the field. Only the top 32 teams would advance, and at the other end of the leaderboard, a score of +1 (73) produced a scorecard playoff for the final qualifying positions, underscoring just how tight the competition was from top to bottom.
Starting on the 1st tee, Andy Smith of Pine Hills Country Club and Chad Sandee of Premier Golf & Utility Vehicles wasted little time setting the pace. Smith carded three birdies on the front nine and three more on the back nine, while Sandee contributed four birdies of his own in a balanced team effort that fueled an 8-under-par 64.
That performance proved just enough to secure a one-shot victory over a tightly packed group at the top. Finishing in a three-way tie for second at 7-under-par 65 were the teams of Michael Nagy and Barrett Kelpin, Cody Strang and Wyatt Wilderman, and Andy Hansen and Austin Schloesser.
For their efforts, Sandee and Smith earned $725 each along with the victory.
Additional highlights included closest-to-the-pin contests, compliments of Bushnell Golf, where Nagy earned honors on Hole No. 4 and Jason Manke claimed the prize on Hole No. 17.
The better ball format showcased strong teamwork throughout the day, with Smith and Sandee combining for a steady and productive round that never strayed from under-par golf. Their ability to consistently convert birdie opportunities ultimately proved to be the difference in a highly competitive field and earned them the honor of being the No. 1 seed in the Four-Ball Match Play Championship bracket.
The Wisconsin PGA would like to extend its appreciation to the host site, West Bend Country Club, for its hospitality and excellent course conditions. Special thanks are also extended to event partners Harris Golf Cars, Bushnell Golf, StickX Golf, Donald Ross Sportswear, and XXIO Golf for their continued support of PGA professionals and the Association’s competitive schedule.