May 16, 2022
By Ernie Ernst
The Kohler Hickory Challenge was contested this past week, May 12-15, at the courses at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run. With a little twist in course selection this year, participants were offered a warm up round on the Straits Course on Thursday for fun. Many took advantage of the opportunity to play the Ryder Cup track and were treated to some outstanding weather. But Lake Michigan keeps things interesting and changes in the wind and temperature come fast.
Day One of the event this year was held at the Irish Course, weather again was perfect by any standard for a spring day in Wisconsin, but the warm winds made play on the course very challenging. Our Champion, Peter Flory, posted the only sub-80 round of the day, a five-stroke lead over the nearest challengers with the very challenging Meadows course to come on Day Two.
Before that, we had the opportunity to go play the Par 3 “Baths Course” at Blackwolf run after golf on Friday. It was a wonderful venue to relax and have some putting contests on the Par 3 putting course. Several players brought their gutty clubs and balls. It was a nice way to relax into the beautiful evening, have a beer and catch up with old friends and make some new ones.
Saturday on the Meadows Course greeted everyone with a beautiful day of temperatures in the 80s. Scoring was better and a few players used the calmer day to make some moves. Congratulations to all the award winners but really getting to play these two fine courses is the ultimate reward. Our award winners by Division were as follows:
Women:
Champion – Jeanne Swenson
First Net Champion – Chelsea Guenette
Champions Division:
2022 Champion – Peter Flory
Runner up – Jeff Guerard
Third Place – Mike Brown
First Net Champion – Rob Kress
Second Net – Jared Beggs
Third Net – Dan Dugan
Senior Division:
Champion – Ernie Ernst
Runner up – George Burgland
Third Place – Bert Coghill
First Net – Angus Rollo
Second Net – Todd Stevenson
Third Net – Jim “Doc” Eike
Legends Division:
Champion – Werner Kolln
Runner up – David Boyd
First Net – Cal Whitman
Second Net – Greg Smith
Thank you to all who attended. It was a wonderful weekend. Check out out the photo gallery below and be sure to join us next year for the fun and golf.
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- Defending Kohler Hickory Challenge winner, Peter Flory (second from the right) and our Senior Champion winner, Ernie Ernst (far right), get ready to start their day at the Irish course with Dr. Dave Brown (far left) and Mike Heller. Congratulations Peter on two very fine days of play.
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- Women’s Champion Jeanne Swenson, left, and Chelsea Guenette, the Net Champion.
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- David Boyd, runner up in the Legends Division, accepts his award from Doc Eike.
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- A better looking group of gentleman were not to be found at Kohler this week. On the far right is Champions third place winner Mike Brown; third from the right is First Place net winner Rob Kress. Special thanks to our greeter over the weekend, Jim “ Wally” Koss, second from the left, he made all attendees feel welcome.
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- The players at the 2022 Kohler Hickory Challenge.
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- Janet Whitman, our official hostess and photographer.
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- Champions Runner up, Jeff Guerard, of the golfing Guerard family, stripes his first shot at The Irish Course.
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- Legends Champion Werner Kolln. One can see how with that swing he took top honors.
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- Legends Division second place net winner Greg Smith (far left) gets ready to go with (l to r) Werner Kolln, Dan Hoffmann and Albert Bruno.
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- Todd Stevenson (left) and Jim “Doc” Eike, Senior Net second and third place finishers.
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- Todd Stevenson , left second place in Senior Net, with third place Senior Division winner, Bert Coghill (second from left), and Champions third place Net winner Dan Dugan and Chris Lynch before their play on the Irish Course.
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- First Place Net Division Winners Cal Whitman in the Legends (left) and Angus Rollo, Senior Division, enjoying the artistic work of Pete Dye on the Meadows Valley Course.
