SUMMER SHOWDOWN
EVENT PARTNERS
For the sixth straight season the Wisconsin PGA and Wisconsin State Golf Association teamed up to present the WSGA / WPGA Summer Showdown on Monday. The invitation only event featured another great field, as 65 golfers with Wisconsin ties teed it up. This year’s event traveled to Meadowbrook CC in Racine, as players looked to get their golf game ready to go for next week’s Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open.
Grabbing the momentum heading into next week, and taking advantage of the perfecting scoring and course conditions was Jim Schuman of Blue Mound G&CC. The PGA teaching professional found his groove on the greens and stole the show as one of the last groups to finish. Starting on the back nine the 2-time Wisconsin State Open champ got off to a great start as he nearly holed his second shot into the par 4 12th. From 177 yards he struck a five iron that hit the flagstick and dropped down to six feet.
The great shot kicked off a three birdie stretch over the course of the next four holes. Next up, a key save on the par 4 16th would help keep the round going. After hitting his drive through the fairway the Madison native would be forced to layup to 50 yards.
“I really made a nice shot from there,” Schuman said. “I was able to get up and down after hitting it to about five feet.”
He would finish off the back nine with a few more pars, but then would hit his lone stumbling block of the day with a bogey on the par 4 1st. The bogey would quickly be erased with back to back birdies on no. 2 and no. 3.
From there his steady play led the way, as he carded four straight pars and two closing birdies to cap off the round. The final of which would come via his longest putt of the day.
“Nine is a dicey little hole,” Schuman said. “I had it straight up the hill from about twenty feet. It was nice to finish that way.”
In the end his great play would result in a 6-under-par 65. The winning mark would help him earn a three shot victory over Tom Burton of Hidden Glen GC. Finishing directly behind Burton in third place would be Ryan Helminen. Tying for low amateur honors would be Ricky Kuiper and Paul Zarek with 1-under-par 70s.
“I just putted well, and the iron play was really solid,” Schuman said in closing. “It is always nice to win.”
With his great play Schuman was able to win a combined $2,300 from the professional contest, senior contest and the bonus prize pool.
A big thank you goes out to TaylorMade & adidas Golf along with Steve Ploch, Hunter Mahler and Matt Flaten for their support of the event for the sixth straight season. With their help the day was once again well received by all the attendees.
The WPGA and WSGA would also like to express our appreciation to the membership and staff at Meadowbrook CC. The club once again did a great job of hosting a Wisconsin PGA & Wisconsin State Golf Association event.
WSGA / WPGA Summer Showdown Results