West Allis, WI (August 16, 2024) – The Wisconsin Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (WPGA) is excited to present the Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open, at Minocqua Country Club on Monday-Wednesday, August 19-21. The event provides an exciting opportunity to bring this championship to the Northwoods of Wisconsin for the first-time. Geographically the championship has made stops in Stevens Point, Eau Claire, and Door County, but never as far north as Minocqua.
The marquee event of the Wisconsin State Open series will be played on a singular host site for the third straight season before returning to a two-course offering in 2025 at Blackwolf Run.
Originally a 9-hole property, Minocqua Country Club underwent an expansion and redesign in 2001 under the direction of Ron Garl. Recognized as one of the top private courses in the state by GolfWeek, the layout will put a premium on accuracy, as holes border Lake Minocqua and Lake Tomahawk and meander their way through the Northwoods and fescue grass.
“The aesthetics of the layout and pristine course conditions will impress all the participants,” said Chris Hoel, WPGA assistant executive director. “However, players need to be careful not to get caught up in the scenery and lose focus. The course can certainly give you a big number if you start to hit it offline.”
Players to Watch
David Bach, Griffin Barela, Jacob Beckman, Zach Burry, Michael Crowley, Charlie Delsman, Cameron Huss, Barrett Kelpin, George Kneiser, Daniel Mazziotta, Adam Miller, Harrison Ott, Mason Schmidtke, Jack Schultz, Dustin Schwab, Mick Smith, Bennett Swavely, Sam Weatherhead
Notable Items
- Minocqua Country Club has previously hosted the 2018 Wisconsin State Amateur Championship and 2010 Wisconsin PGA Professional Championship. It will play between 6675 and 6830 yards. https://minocquacountryclub.com/
- The 104th Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley Wisconsin State Open will be played over 72 holes. Each player will play 18 holes on Monday and 18 holes on Tuesday. The field will then be cut to the low 60 scores & ties and the final 36 holes will take place on Wednesday.
- The youngest player in the field is Austin Dobbe at 16 years old, and the oldest is Mike Murphy at 68.
- The field is currently made up of 80 professionals and 76 amateurs.
- Estimated Purse – $80,000
Other 2024 Wisconsin State Open Series Events
June 10-12 – 28th Sentry Wisconsin State Women’s Open at Meadowbrook Country Club (Racine) – Won by Elise Hoven
September 3-4 – 40th Wisconsin State Senior Open at North Shore Golf Club (Menasha)
For more information on the Wisconsin State Open Series visit https://wisconsin.pga.com/state-opens/.
About the Wisconsin State Open Series
Annually the Wisconsin PGA conducts three of the major golf events in the state, the Wisconsin State Open Series. The oldest and largest of the three championships, the Wisconsin State Open, dates back to 1919 and has been contested every year, except for a two year stretch during World War II. The list of venues is impressive, ranging from classic designs such as Blue Mound Golf & Country Club and Milwaukee Country Club to modern gems like Blackwolf Run and The Bog. The event winners are a list of who’s who in the history of golf in Wisconsin. PGA Tour veterans including Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker and Mark Wilson have all captured the title. The other two championships are relatively new compared to the Wisconsin State Open but are building a history of their own and feature the best female and senior golfers in the state on a year-by-year basis. The Wisconsin State Open Series is supported by The Suter Ward Group at Morgan Stanley, Sentry Insurance and TaylorMade Golf.
About the Wisconsin Section PGA
The Wisconsin Section is one of the 41 sections that comprise the regional entities of the PGA of America. Over 500 members and associates belong to the Wisconsin Section, stretching from areas in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to almost the entire state of Wisconsin. Annually, the Wisconsin Section conducts over 40 professional events, operates their foundation – PGA Reach Wisconsin, and participates in several growth-of-the-game activities including PGA Junior League, Drive, Chip and Putt and PGA HOPE. Wisconsin PGA Office is located at 11350 W. Theo Trecker Way in West Allis, Wis.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, participation and inclusion in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
