West Allis, Wis. – The Wisconsin PGA is pleased to roll out its tournament schedule for its centennial year. It will be another exciting year of competitive golf as the calendar features more than 40 playing opportunities. Whether professionals or amateurs are looking for a fun day of camaraderie, or a high level intense competition, the schedule will have something for everyone. The calendar of events will kick off with the annual WPGA Las Vegas Pro-Am in March and conclude with the Fall Pro-Pro Scramble in mid-October.
Wisconsin State Open Series
Grabbing the top billing on the schedule is the three event Wisconsin State Open Series. The top golfers with ties to the state of Wisconsin will again put their skills on display as they look to win the female, open, and men’s senior championships.
The series will get underway on June 14-16 as the 26th Sentry Wisconsin State Women’s Open makes a return visit to The GC’s of Lawsonia. After playing host on the Links course in 2021, this year’s event will give players a chance to see the newly renovated Woodlands course. The championship will expand to three rounds for the first time and now feature a 36-hole cut. The change will make the top amateur finishers eligible for World Amateur Golf Ranking points.
Approximately two months later the 102nd Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open will return to Ozaukee Country Club in Mequon for the fourth time overall, and first since 1968. It will be a grand celebration as the host site and Wisconsin PGA celebrate their centennials in 2022.
“With both Ozaukee CC and the Wisconsin PGA celebrating 100 years in 2022, I can’t think of a better way than to bring the Suter Ward Group Wisconsin State Open to the prestigious course,” said Joe Stadler, WPGA executive director. “We are really looking forward to three great days in August.”
After featuring a two-course setup in 2019 and 2021 the event will return to a singular host course in 2022. The Wisconsin PGA tournament policy board has made a commitment to utilizing the two-course setup again in the future, but the decision will be handled on a year-by-year basis.
Finally, the State Open Series will wrap up with the 38th playing of the Wisconsin State Senior Open on September 6-7. The championship will make its second appearance at Hidden Glen GC in 13 years. Known for their pristine conditions, the Cedarburg layout will certainly test the golf games of all the participants.
WPGA Stroke Play Championships
Next up on the docket is the always important WPGA Professional Championships. The three stroke play events will again award titles among the assistants, seniors and members in the Section. For the seventh straight year the assistants and seniors in the Section will have their championships overlap and take place at the same site. The assistants will complete their 36 holes in one day, while the seniors will split up their two rounds between two days. The championships will venture up north, as Wausau Country Club will host the events for the very first time. This year’s championships will take place on July 18 and 19. As for the WPGA member championship it will return to the Madison area for the first time since 2011. Players will get a chance to tackle the Andy North designed The Legend at Bergamont on September 12-13. It will be the fourth straight season that the championship has been conducted over 36 holes.
What Changes are in Store for 2022 – Formats, Dates, Policies?
- The Sentry Wisconsin State Women’s Open will be a 54-hole event. The change will make the event eligible for World Amateur Golf Ranking points. In addition, it will now feature a cut after 36 holes of play.
- Staggered registration start dates for WPGA pro-ams. With pro-am events in high demand the registration process will now allow professionals to register closer to the event day versus committing months in advance. The registration opening dates are listed below.
- Concurrent four-player pro-ams on June 6 at Bullseye GC and The Club at Strawberry Creek.
- Three different price points for four-player pro-ams.
- One Oliphant Golf Management Pro-Am Championship qualifying spot will be handed out to the top eligible team at the PGA Reach Wisconsin Pro-Am Fundraiser.
- Registration for the three WPGA professional Championships will now run through the Wisconsin PGA’s tournament system. Players will no longer have to register with the PGA of America.
- The skins game contest for all WPGA classics will now be included in the entry fee.
- The four WPGA match play championships will require all players to qualify and play for seeding. The No. 1 seed will no longer be assigned to the previous year’s champion.
- 1st place playoffs will return at all one-day WPGA classics.
Plenty of Four-Player Pro-Ams to Enjoy
The WPGA four-player pro-am series is back with another great lineup of facilities and formats. The series will provide professionals with the opportunity to tee it up with their amateur members, friends, and customers. It will feature nine events in total, with sites ranging across the state. All amateur participants must have a World Handicap System handicap index in order to participate.
The series will begin in early May with a trip to the old school Wisconsin Club layout on the north side of Milwaukee. Next up will be a shift out west and a trip to modern day designed Bishops Bay CC in Middleton.
As the series moves into June it will feature both Bullseye GC and The Club at Strawberry Creek on June 6. Just two weeks later the always popular Double Dip Pro-Am will make a stop at Wild Rock GC.
In the heart of the summer the series will then make stops at Janesville CC in July and the Irish Course at Whistling Straits in early August. Last but not least the series will circle back to the Milwaukee area and stop at Tuckaway CC in September.
These eight “regular season” pro-ams will lead into the Oliphant Golf Management Pro-Am Championship for the seventh straight year. Throughout the season the top finishing teams will earn an invite to the Links Course at The GC’s of Lawsonia on October 3.
Other Pro-Am Opportunities
Also joining in on the fun will be the PGA Reach Wisconsin Pro-Am Fundraiser. The four-player event will take place on August 22 at The Bog. It’ll be another great day of golf and camaraderie, while fundraising for a terrific cause.
The beloved pro-ladies competitions will feature two sites for the seventh straight year. This year’s spring event will head to Nakoma GC on May 31 and the summer event will venture to Racine CC on August 29.
As for the lone two-player pro-am on the schedule, The Legend Challenge will rotate over to The Legend at Merrill Hills on May 24.
Pro-Am Registration Opening Dates;
March 1
Wisconsin Club Pro-Am, National Golf Graphics Pro-Am, Pro-Ladies Spring Event, The Legend Challenge Scratch Pro-Am
April 1
Bullseye Pro-Am, X Golf Strawberry Creek Pro-Am, Wild Rock Double Dip Pro-Am
May 1
Janesville CC Pro-Am
June 1
The Suter Ward Group Pro-Am at the Irish Course, PGA Reach Wisconsin Pro-Am Fundraiser, Pro-Ladies Summer Event
July 1
Tuckaway Pro-Am
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Registration for several WPGA events will start on March 1, while the State Open Series will open on April 1. The WPGA Professional Championships will open on May 1.
To see the complete 2022 schedule please visit – https://wisconsin.pga.com/schedule/