NEWS
The Wisconsin Open continues to prove why it is one of the longest running and most respected tournaments in Golden Tee. Every year brings something memorable, and this one was no different. The weather followed suit with how unpredictable this game can be, starting off mild and finishing with freezing rain that made for some tough travel on the way out. Still, being stuck around Sussex Bowl with a line of machines and players is not exactly a bad situation.
The event drew 119 players from across the Midwest, the South, and as far as Seattle, and the competition reflected that depth. Qualifying felt balanced for both experienced players and newcomers, with Gunnison Gap being the only course that caused some pushback. Even so, scores were strong across the board. Andy Haas secured the top qualifying spot at -145 with 167,361 GSP, narrowly edging out George Von K and Jeff Lannen. Haas also led Gunnison Gap and Hawkeye Hills, while Burak Temel posted a huge -32 on Acoma Mesa, George Von K took Celtic Shores, and Harry Lomason closed things out on Elkhorn Ridge.
The Main bracket was stacked from the start, and Andy Haas looked to make another deep run after qualifying first. He was rolling until running into Paul Luna in round four, where Luna took a big win on Desert Valley -31 to -28. That momentum carried straight into the King of the Hill match, where Luna defeated Paul Tayloe to reach the finals. Tayloe had an impressive path himself, battling through Jeff Lannen, Gordie Brown, and Nate Webb, who has been on a strong run on the tour. The finals featured two world champions and two of the best in the game, and Luna took control early on Kings Canyon, winning -29 to -26. It was a big statement win for Luna after falling short in 2025, and both he and Tayloe look like major contenders heading toward the 2026 World Championship.
The Purple bracket had its own storyline, starting with top seed Matt Howard falling out early and opening the door for others. Jim Klomparens stepped up and made the most of it. After being away from the National Golden Tee Tour for about five years, he showed no signs of rust. Despite a quieter qualifying performance, he worked his way into the King of the Hill and waited as Chad Hart battled back through the bracket to meet him in the finals. Hart made things interesting with a hole in one on 18 at Celtic Shores, but Klomparens stayed composed and finished the job, winning -28 to -27. The victory earns him the Purple bracket title and a spot in the 2027 Golden Tee World Championship.
The Pink bracket featured a wide open field with several players in position to make a run. Aung Moe put together one of the cleanest performances of the weekend, working through five opponents including Richard Swindell in the King of the Hill match to reach the finals. Travis Tressler, the top Pink qualifier, fought back through the loser bracket and defeated Swindell -25 to -21 on Kings Canyon to earn his shot in the finals. Even with that momentum, Moe stayed steady and in control, defeating Tressler -25 to -21 on Elkhorn Ridge to secure his first National Golden Tee Tour bracket win.
Huge thanks go out to Power Events Vending for organizing and running another great tournament, and to Sussex Bowl and their staff for hosting and keeping everything running smoothly all weekend. Events like this continue to raise the bar because of that support and effort behind the scenes!
Next up, the National Golden Tee Tour heads to Funny Bone's for the Missouri Open from April 30 through May 3, 2026. This stop is always one players circle on the calendar, and after the level of play we just saw in Wisconsin, the competition is only going to get stronger. It is shaping up to be another must watch weekend on tour.
