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8-20-09
WISCONSIN STATE OPEN
Year after year, Dan Woltman has added impressive lines to his amateur resume, and he put another one down on paper yesterday with his second victory in the Wisconsin State Open Championship. Just like he did two years ago, Woltman won the title at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, and in the process he became only the second amateur player to win the tournament twice, joining state golf hall of famer Bob Brue (1958-59).
Woltman, a native of Beaver Dam who recently completed his senior season on the University Wisconsin golf team, came from behind in a tournament that was Neil Johnson’s for the taking down the stretch. Johnson, a minitour player from River Falls, entered the final round with a two-stroke lead, and he still held that margin on the 18th tee. But the tournament’s 72nd hole would be his undoing.
Johnson hit a good tee shot, but a poor approach, and to make things worse he then three-putted the final green to fall into a tie with Woltman at 5-under-par 283. Woltman won with a par on the second playoff hole.
For the week, Woltman shot rounds of 69-73-71-70 on a composite course made up of nine holes each from the River and Meadow Valleys courses at Blackwolf Run, and he was particularly impressive in going 3 under par on the blustery 36-hole final day on Wednesday.
Johnson shot 74-72 on Wednesday.
Now Woltman has set his sights on a couple of big national events that he says will wrap up his amateur career. He’ll compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship next week at Southern Hills CC in Tulsa, Okla., and he still hopes to be added to the prestigious Walker Cup team. The United States Team will take on Europe in the Walker Cup in mid-September at Merion GC in Ardmore, Pa.
As an amateur winner of the State Open, Woltman was not able to collect the $8,000 winner’s check, so Johnson, who turned pro a couple years ago, earned the first-place money. But Woltman said he hopes to be cashing those kinds of checks soon.
“Once I get past this fall, it’s pay for play,” Woltman said. “I’m turning pro after the Walker Cup if I make that, and if not I’m turning pro after the U.S. Amateur. My plans after that are that I’m going to Q-School. I’ve already sent in my application.”
Jordan Elsen of Kenosha, a senior at UW and former teammate of Woltman’s, finished third at 287 (72-72-73-70) and another former champion, Mario Tiziani, now a resident of Shorewood, Minn., was fourth. Tiziani, who shot 73-70-70-75, was in the mix down the stretch as well, but his hopes ended when his approach on the 17th hole found water.
Tied for fifth at 293 were Verona amateur Danny Zimmerman (76-69-78-70) and defending champion Ryan Helminen of Appleton (65-77-73-78).
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