The Wisconsin State Open is a prestigious golf tournament that attracts top players from around the region. The second round concluded on Tuesday at Minocqua Country Club in Minocqua, with three players tied for the lead and nine more within three shots heading into the final 36 holes on Wednesday.
One of the players who had a chance to take the lead was Illinois professional Zach Place, who calls Sand Valley Golf Resort in Nekoosa his home club. Place had surged to the top of the leaderboard at 11-under but faltered in the final three holes, finishing at 3-over. He is now tied for fourth place with two other players.
Following Place’s stumble, Marquette University’s Max Lyons took the lead at 10-under, only to bogey the 17th hole and fall back into a three-way tie for first place with Hartford professional Sam Weatherhead and Nekoosa amateur Adam Miller, both at 9-under for the tournament.
Weatherhead had an impressive round, making eight birdies to climb up the leaderboard, while Miller had a clean round with five birdies and 13 pars. Interestingly, Place and Miller had previously teamed up in June to win the WSGA Four-Ball Championship, which was Place’s final event as an amateur.
The field of 156 players was cut to the low 60 scores and ties after Tuesday’s round, setting the stage for the final 36 holes of the championship on Wednesday. Last year’s top-finishing professional took home around $12,500 in prize money.
Defending champion Cameron Huss, who won last year as an amateur and turned pro for this event, remains in contention after shooting a 3-under 69 to sit tied for fourth place at 8-under for the tournament, alongside Appleton professional Zach Burry.
Other players in the mix include Spring Valley pro Tyler Leach, Hartland teenager Cody Guetzke, and first-round leader Ross Thomson, a men’s golf assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin. The top 10 is rounded out by amateurs Drake Wilcox of Sheboygan, Ricky Kuiper of Racine, and Downers Grove professional Aidan Lafferty, all at 6-under for the tournament.
The competition is heating up as the final 36 holes approach, and fans can expect an exciting finish to the Wisconsin State Open. Stay tuned for updates on the leaderboard and see who will emerge victorious in this highly anticipated event.