Article by: Rick Pledl
Standing on the 18th green Monday afternoon on the Lakes Course at Lake Arrowhead GC, Mason Schmidtke knew the importance of the putt he was about to stroke.
All Schmidtke had to do to win the 35th annual Lake Arrowhead Invitational was make the 18-footer for par. Miss it, and he was likely headed to a playoff and who knows what kind of outcome. Schmidtke made the putt – clinching a one-stroke victory in the boys division – punctuating the win with a fist pump and an added leg kick for good measure. "It felt good to see one go in when it mattered,” he said.
Schmidtke, a 17-year-old from Sheboygan, found himself in the position of needing that putt because he hit his tee shot on the par-4 18th hole into the second of two ponds located in the fairway. Expecting to fade the ball, Schmidtke hit it straight instead, missing the turf by about a foot. “I didn’t really think I could get it to the water,” Schmidtke said. “I just got an unfortunate bounce and it went in there.”
But Schmidtke handed the situation like a pro, stepping back a few feet on the correct line, and taking a drop at about 115 yards – a distance that he had hit it stiff from earlier in the round. He didn’t hit it that close on 18, but it was close enough to close out the tournament and a one-stroke win.
As is tradition at the Lake Arrowhead Invitational, all boys and girls competitors played a round on the Pines Course on Sunday, followed by the final round Monday on the Lakes Course.
Schmidtke, who opened with a round of 71, entered the final round two strokes behind leader Tyler Johnson of Berlin, who shot 69 on Sunday. Schmidtke also trailed Alex Weiss of Middleton, who shot 70 Sunday. That trio battled throughout the final round, but Schmidtke flexed his short-game muscles on the final few holes, allowing him to pull ahead. Schmidtke had just made three costly bogies in a four-hole span (Nos. 11-14) Monday when he arrived at the drivable par-4 15th, playing at 321 yards. Schmidtke hit a beautiful drive there, which left him only about 20 yards off the putting surface. He chipped to within about an inch of the hole and tapped in for birdie.
On 16, a par-3 measuring just 139 yards for the final round, Schmidtke came up short of the green on his tee shot. But then he chipped in for another birdie from about 30 feet away. “My chipping has been really good this whole tournament,” Schmidtke said Monday. “I made a couple errant swings today, but other than that it was a good day.” Schmidtke was the only player to finish in red figures for the tournament, shooting 71-72–143 to finish at 1 under par. Weiss finished second with scores of 70-74–144. There was a tie for third in the Boys division at 145. Johnson shot 69-76 to finish in a tie with Rasmus Madsen of Kimberly, who shot 76-69.
On the girls side of the ledger, Greenfield native Cassandra Psuik won by two strokes. Psuik made two birdies and two bogies on the front nine Monday, then rattled off nine straight pars on the back to lock up the title. Psuik trailed Vivian Cressman of Middleton by one stroke coming into Monday’s final round, but Psuik shot even par the final round, turning a small deficit into a two-stroke victory.
“I played really consistent today,” Psuik said after Monday’s round. “It was a lot better than yesterday. I was able to make putts and keep it in the fairway all day.” Psuik shot 74-72–146 over the 36-hole event for a 2 over finish.
Norah Roberts of Racine finished second (74-74–148), and Riley Pechinski of Plover finished third (76-73–149). (Click here for complete results.) Both Schmidtke and Psuik are 17 years old and heading into their senior years of high school, which means they each will have another season of junior golf eligibility and the opportunity to defend the title they won this week.
Both are also thinking ahead to college golf – Schmidtke is considering some offers, while Psuik has committed to play at Loyola-Chicago. When asked to reflect on her victory Monday in one of Wisconsin’s most prestigious tournaments for junior players, Psuik left no doubt about her emotions. “This is a big win for me,” Psuik said with a wide smile. “This is a big tournament and one that I look forward to every year. To win this tournament is really awesome.”
