LOCAL GOLF ROUNDUP
Mathwick sets pace for local players

After the first round of stroke play qualifying, Michelle Mathwick leads Wisconsin players at the 33rd U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship at Red Tail GC in Devens, Mass.

Mathwick, Greenfield, shot a 2-over-par 72 Monday and was tied for 28th place. She was followed by Kenosha’s Carly Werwie, a University of Wisconsin player, who shot a 4-over 76 and was tied for 52nd. Edgerton’s Allyssa Ferrell shot a 6-over 78 and was tied for 72nd, and Osceola’s Lindsay Danielson shot a 12-over 84 and was tied for 130th in the 156-player field.

The second round of match play got underway this morning. The first round of match play gets underway Wednesday, with the 36-hole championship match being held Saturday, June 27.

After playing 36 holes in the hottest temperatures of the summer, Tommy Hearden of Horseshoe Bay GC in Egg Harbor and Jordan Niebrugge of The Bull at Pinehurst Farms in Sheboygan Falls were the low juniors Monday at the USGA U.S. Junior Qualifying tournament at The Legend at Bergamont in Oregon. Each earned a spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship being held July 20-25 at Trump National GC in Bedminster, N.J.

Both players followed morning rounds of 1-over-par 73 with impressive 3-under-par 69s. Hearden, 17, carded five birdies and two bogeys while Niebrugge, 15, had four birdies and one bogey.

The first alternate from the Oregon qualifying site is 17-year-old Kevin Haack of Westmoor CC in Brookfield, who shot 143 (70-73)and defeated Lucas Kim of Canada in a one-hole playoff to decide the order of qualifying spots.

At the U.S. Bank Championship Section Qualifier Monday at Brown Deer Park GC in Milwaukee, Brad Peck of Nakoma GC earned a spot in Wisconsin’s PGA Tour event.

Peck, the head pro at Madison’s Nakoma GC, shot a 2-under-par 69 and beat Eddie Terasa in a four-hole playoff. Terasa, pro at North Hills CC, is the qualifier’s lone alternate.

Reigning Wisconsin State Open champion Ryan Helminen, assistant pro at SentryWorld in Stevens Point, fired the low round of the day as he participated for only player of the year points and the purse.  His hot play continued as he made a 6-under-par 65 look routine, helping him build some momentum on his way to the U.S. Bank Championship.  Peck and Helminen will be joined by one more Wisconsin PGA member or apprentice in three weeks when the WPGA Birdies For Charity participants will get once more chance on July 10 to qualify for the U.S. Bank Championship.