New Website and Wisconsin State Match Play

Hello Friends,

This is the first of many posts on my new website. My hopes are to update it with results from my golf tournaments so my family, friends, and sponsors are able to follow me when I am not around. Until I leave Wisconsin and travel the country as a professional golfer, the updates will focus around my amateur tournaments.

The summer began in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin as I tried to defend at the State Bestball Tournament. My partner Travis Meyer and I left for Fond du Lac very exctied for the challenge, but unfortunately we did not fair as well as we would have liked. We lost in the first round of match play, 2&1. We were 5 under through the 17 holes, but that was not good enough because our opponents birdied 5 of the last 7 holes.

The next weekend, June 11th and 12th, was qualifying for the US Public Links Championship in Hartford, Wisconsin. I struggled the first day and shot a 77. Sunday was better as I managed an even par 72. I missed by several shots, but the good play on Sunday helped me get ready for the Wisconsin State Match Play which began the next day, June 13th.

On Monday, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin the State Match Play began. The tournament was played at the Bull at Pinehurst Farms. It is a wonderful golf course that is very comparable with its neighbor's Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits. I shot an even par 72 on Monday, good enough for the 7th seed in the Match Play bracket. After winning two matches on Tuesday and one early Wednesday morning, I had to play Tom Halla. Tom is a regular contendar on the Wisconsin Amateur circuit, and after beating him 5&3 I felt very confident about my chances to win it all.

Thursday morning I survived the windy conditions to beat Tommy Welton 2up, then prepared to face David Merkow in the finals. I lost to Merkow in the third round of the 2004 Match Play so I wanted revenge. I was also paired with David for Monday's stroke play round and afterwards he said, "Neil, you'll be a tough player to beat this week." I felt it important to not make him a liar.

I cruised on the front nine, shooting a 3-under par 33. It included some very hot putting, only 10 putts for the nine holes. I made birdie putts on 5, 6, and 7 as well as a par putt on 8 to win each of those holes.



Blasting out a bunker on the 10th hole of final match. I made the 5 foot putt to halve the hole. During the final match, I was 4 for 4 on sand saves.


On the tenth tee I found myself 3-up. A few bad swings and I was only 1-up after 12. On 14, I was in the greenside bunker and David was on the green, but 50 feet from the hole. He lagged it up to 3 feet and I splashed my bunker shot to 4 feet. I made mine and David missed. 2 up. We halved 15 and after hooking my ball in the hazard on 16, I had to drop on the ladies tee. I put my third shot 80 yards from the green and hit the sandwedge to 10 feet. David was unable to get his ball up and down for a par and after I rolled in my bogey putt, I was dormie (2 up with 2 to go). On 17, I split the fairway and stuck my 6-iron to 5 feet to close of the match with an eagle. Final score, 3&1.

Both David and I played very well, but it is tough to beat somebody when they only have 21 putts through 17 holes. In short, I made everything I looked at. Below is a link to the Wisconsin State Golf Association website and a link to the results of the State Match Play. This was the third state championship I have won in the last 13 months (2004 State Bestball, 2004 State Publinks Stroke Play Championship).

Match Play Results

WSGA Website

Thanks for watching and keep sending the good vibes. Feel free to leave a comment or send an email. My email address is mrneiljohnson@hotmail.com