SPRING PRO-PRO
SCRAMBLE
EVENT PARTNERS
It was another successful start to the Wisconsin PGA tournament season on Monday. For the first time since being added to the tournament schedule in 2019, the Spring Pro-Pro Scramble featured a sold-out field. Fifty-two teams made their way to Meadowbrook Country Club in Racine, to enjoy a great day of camaraderie and competition.
Although everyone was excited to dust off the clubs and kick off the year, Mother Nature was ready to pack a punch. Throughout the day crosswinds gusted up to 40 mph and provided quite a challenge for the participants. Sunshine would help provide some comfort, but the windy conditions were certainly the talk of the day.
Defying the conditions and putting together the best round was the duo of Barrett Kelpin of Bishops Bay CC and Mike Nagy of TPC Wisconsin. The former power-5 conference college golfers would prove to be in a class of their own on Monday.
After a solid start with three birdies in their first six holes, the twosome would catch fire. Nagy would take advantage of the lone downwind hole, the 331-yard par-4 no. 7. He would hit a great 3-wood to about 25 feet and then role in the eagle putt for the only two of the day on no. 7.
On the very next hole Kelpin would return the favor, as he would stripe a nice drive, knock a long iron to 10 feet, and roll in the eagle putt.
The run wouldn’t stop there, as they would keep the momentum going by birdieing four of the next five holes. The hot stretch of play carried them to a winning mark of 12-under-par 59 and a five-shot win. It certainly was a score that most of the field thought was unattainable in the difficult conditions.
Finishing in a four-way tie for second place were Jamie Christianson/Race Cuckler, Andy Hansen/Keith Buntrock, Donny Sell/Austin Elsner, and John Bailey/Kyle Lindert.
Also, up for grabs were closest the pin contests on each of the par 3s. The players would see who could take home a Blue Tees Golf Player Plus Speaker / GPS unit by hitting it close. The winners were:
#2 – Bennett Reese
#4 – Kurt Mantyla
#6 – Joel Weitz
#11 – Wyatt Wilderman
#17 – James Kelly
To boot, Range Servant also kicked in $100 to Wilderman for his shot on no. 11. It certainly was well earned, as it took place on the second hardest hole of the day.
The WPGA would like to thank our event partners for their sponsorship of Monday’s event. We were fortunate to have another great collection of sponsors to help dress up the event. Lending their support to this year’s Spring Scramble were Harris Golf Cars, Range Servant, Blue Tees, AndersonOrd and Homestretch Golf.
A great deal of appreciation also goes out to Meadowbrook CC and their staff for hosting. The course was in nice early season shape and the club deserves special recognition for stepping up as a substitute host site in late March.