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Bendtsen wins Fischer title in playoff

JANESVILLE — Bendt Bendtsen III spends his days helping his father out in the family bakery business.

The 22-year old Racine resident may have to turn in his baker’s cap for a golf cap.

Bendtsen fired rounds of 68 and 66 on Sunday to force a playoff, and then parred the second hole of the playoff to beat Antigo’s Kelly Kretz for the Ray Fischer State Medal Play Championship at Riverside Golf Course on Sunday.

Both were 18-under for at 270 for 72 holes.

Despite playing for the first time in the 42nd annual tournament and only the second time ever at Riverside, Bendtsen put together four rounds in the 60s. He birdied No. 17 in his afternoon round to move into a tie with Kretz, and then tapped in for the win on the second playoff hole after Kretz missed a six-footer for par.

“Anytime you win a tournament, it’s exciting,” Bendtsen said. “I figured I’d have to be about 10-under today to have a chance, and that’s what I was.

“I made a lot of putts and only bogeyed three holes all day. I played pretty well all four rounds, which you have to do on this course because you know scores are going to be low.”

Bendtsen kept the ball in play during both rounds Sunday. Long off the tee, Bendtsen was able to take advantage of his superior short game.

“I’m usually pretty good hitting my wedge, and I used it quite a bit on this course,” Bendtsen said. “And I also play a fade, which sets up pretty well for me on this course.”

Bendtsen and Kretz had a chance to win in regulation, but they missed birdie putts at the 18th. The two mashers easily reached the Par 5 10th—the first playoff hole—in two, and Kretz had an 8-footer for eagle that slid wide of the cup. Both made birdie to force a second hole.

Kretz flew the green on No. 11 on his approach shot and was stuck in a poor lie on the backside of the green. Bendtsen also hit his second shot over the green, but he had a better lie than Kretz for his third shot.

After Bendtsen chipped within a foot of the cup, Kretz slid his chip six feet past. Kretz missed his par putt, and all Bendtsen had to do was tap in for the title.

Kretz, who will be a sophomore at Marquette University, played Riverside for the first time in Friday’s opening round. He opened with a 74, but then fired rounds of 65, 64 and 67. Kretz was 19-under with four holes to play, but bogeyed 15 and 16.

“I played some of my best golf ever the last three rounds,” Kretz said. “I had two bad holes coming in and that cost me.

“The course doesn’t really suit my game because it’s pretty short and tight,” Kretz said of the 6,508-yard layout at Riverside. “And I’m a pretty long player. But I took advantage of the Par 5s and made some big putts. I just misread the last one a little bit.”

Janesville’s Matt Behm, the 2006 champion, shot 69 in his morning round Sunday, but struggled to a 2-over par 74 in his final round.

Waunakee’s Dustin Schwab, Kretz’s teammate at Marquette, was third at 272.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo of Burlington shot 74 in his morning round, but he withdrew after playing the front nine of his final round.

Ray Fischer

State Medal Play

At Riverside (Par 72)

FINAL RESULTS

xBendt Bendtsen III, Racine 69-67-68-66—270

Kelly Kretz, Antigo 74-65-64-67—270

Dustin Schwab, Waunakee 67-70-68-67—272

John Pallin, Kenosha 71-70-69-68—278

Travis Meyer, River Falls 67-70-67-75—279

Dan Zimmerman, Verona 68-73-66-72—279

Matt Behm, Janesville 67-70-69-74—280

Tyler Obermueller, R Falls 71-71-66-74—282

Todd Schaap, Kenosha 68-71-71-72—282

Michael McDonald, Gtown 69-75-71-68—283

Corey Sell, Oconomowoc 71-71-68-74—284

Nick Krattiger, Monroe 67-73-69-75—284

Alex Gaugert, Lake Geneva 68-73-72-72—285

Mike Hesselman, Edgerton 70-70-72-73—285

Robert Gregorski, Menasha 71-69-70-75—285

Andy De Keuster,Franksville 65-71-76-73—285

Tom Halla, Colgate 70-74-70-73—287

Andrew Steinhofer,Madison 69-71-72-75—287

Duane Olson, Luck 76-70-71-71—288

Steven Johnson, Milwaukee 74-73-69-72—288

Ryan Prickette, Neenah 73-71-71-73—288

Andy Hansen, Mequon 72-74-70-73—289

Kevin Cahill, Waukesha 69-77-70-73—289

Adam Steinhofer, Madison 75-70-71-73—289

Michael Schlaak, Appleton 75-73-71-70—289

Keith Stelzer, Green Bay 73-72-73-72—290

Patrick Duffy, Appleton 69-78-74-69—290

Mike Lewis, Appleton 73-73-75-70—291

Shane Bacher, Racine 69-75-72-75—291

Pat Boyle, South Milw. 72-73-76-74—291

Troy Jastal, Stevens Point 74-75-70-72—291

Brent Wong,Hales Corners 76-74-69-72—291

Jeff Selgren, Elkhorn 72-75-72-73—292

Jonathan Fall, Milwaukee 70-78-69-75—292

K. VanRossum,Hartland 73-76-71-72—292

Matt Masik Jr, Racine 75-75-70-72—292

Erik Botts, Beloit 76-74-68-74—292

Max Hosking, Madison 73-71-74-75—293

M. Scheitinger, M’wonago 71-73-76-73—293

Todd Westrich, Appleton 72-76-72-73—293

Peter Wendt, Lake Mills 72-71-75-75—293

Jon Keemen, Milwaukee 71-78-70-74—293

Peter Howery, McFarland 73-71-75-75—294

Garrett Gosh, Pewaukee 70-71-77-76—294

Troy Bilderback, W’nakee 72-74-71-78—295

Scott Perme, Madison 72-78-71-74—295

Larry Tfertiller, Monroe 76-73-72-74—295

Bruce Hansen, Racine 73-74-74-75—296

David Comeau, L. Geneva 75-72-72-77—296

Mike Hilton, Muskego 71-79-70-76—296

Tim Barber, Milwaukee 72-73-76-76—297

Geoff LaFleur, Waukesha 75-72-74-76—297

Eric Goldapske, Sun Prairie 75-74-72-76—297

Brent Quade, Monroe 72-77-74-74—297

Gary Petit, Monroe 72-73-78-75—298

Nicholas Engen,McFarland 71-76-77-74—298

Mitch Bowers, M Point 73-76-73-76—298

Jacob Lammert, Hartland 75-75-72-76—298

John Haines, Mequon 72-75-76-76—299

Keith Buntrock, Franklin 73-72-72-83—300

Matt Olschenk, Richfield 73-75-76-76—300

Dan Ozga, Edgerton 73-70-77-80—300

John Staehler, Caledonia 74-75-74-77—300

Michael Flynn, Middleton 73-72-76-80—301

AndyTroyanek, Burlington 71-79-76-75—301

Bruce Henning, Brookfield 78-71-79-74—302

Brian O’Connell, Monona 71-78-76-79—304

Patrick Cahill, Waukesha 76-74-78-76—304

Nathan Kollath, Green Bay 78-71-79-77—305

Tony Romo, Burlington 69-70-74—WD

x—won two-hole playoff