HOLMEN, WI - The 2019 La Crosse County Men's Amateur Golf Championship as presented by Pepsi-Cola of La Crosse title belongs to Ben Skogen (pictured) once again.
Skogen, a former WIAA state champion at Onalaska High School and a four-year letterman on the University of Wisconsin Badgers' golf team before graduating in 2018, shot an even par 70 at Drugan's Castle Mound Country Club in Holmen on Sunday for a two-shot victory over rival Tyler Church, the first-round leader. Skogen finished at 70-70-140 while Church stumbled in with 68-74-142.
It was a classic nail biter both days with Church getting the upper hand at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek in Onalaska on Saturday. His 3-under par 68 gave him a two-shot lead over Skogen entering Sunday's round, but anyone who has followed the 29th annual County Am, knows anything can happen on the final day.
While they battled back and forth all day, Skogen, a shift manager at Festival Foods in Onalaska, made some crucial shots on the closing holes and sealed it with a par on the 18th hole when Church bogeyed.

FIRST FLIGHT
Jeff Pigorsch picked up his first victory in First Flight with a pair of 75's for a 150 total. Bruce Lindseth, first-round co-leader with Pigorsch, finished at 153.

SECOND FLIGHT
Tony Friedl shot 80-82-162 to capture Second Flight honors. Holmen's Roy Brock finished runner-up three strokes back with 165.

THIRD FLIGHT
Greg Espenes managed to slip past three other players to win Third Flight with 171. Jeff Meyer, Scott Hackworth and Eric Flack all finished at 172.

FOURTH FLIGHT
Keith Seidel posted 90-89-179 to defeat Jim Dolesy by two shots for the Fourth Flight crown.

2019 LA CROSSE COUNTY AMATUER MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP  

AS PRESENTED BY PEPSI-COLA OF LA CROSSE

Final-Round Results   
Drugan's Castle Mound-Holmen   
Par 71-70-141)   

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Ben Skogen 70-70 140
Tyler Church 68-74 142
Connor Frawley 75-70 145
Drew Schroeder 74-72 146
Bennett Hutson 75-74 149
Carson Brock 76-73 149
Paul Williamson 77-72 149
Aaron Bishop 77-72 149
John Percy 78-72 150
Andy Tomashek 79-73 152
Nick Tomlinson 74-79 153
Eric Johnson 75-78 153
Joel Preeshl 79-74 153
Mike Drugan 79-75 154
Quinn Schultz 81-73 154
Derek Iverson 74-81 155
Tom McClintock 79-76 155
Dan Lenz 78-78 156
Jordan Graf 79-77 156
Ben Korger 81-75 156
Mike Bistodeau 78-79 157
Cody Dirks 71-87 158
Tony Roberts 77-82 159
Jon Wilson 77-83 160
Almann Brague 84-76 160
Mark Miller 83-79 162
Eric Olson 83-80 163
Evan Friedl 81-83 164
Jake Dunn - WD

(Par 71-71-142)
FIRST FLIGHT
Jeff Pigorsch 75-75 150
Bruce Lindseth 75-78 153
Trevor Schultz 80-74 154
Randy Olson 78-77 155
Mitch Gault 79-78 157
Blaine Mason 81-79 160
Rahn Pischke 84-78 162
Jordan Rudolph 90-74 164
Jim Jenkins 82-84 166
Kurt Peters 90-77 167
Larry Peterson 84-85 169
Paul Bruha 89-83 172
Wes Snyder 85-89 174
Zach Elliott 88-89 177
Rick Stewart DNS
 
SECOND FLIGHT   
Tony Friedl 80-82 162
Roy Brock 82-83 165
Thomas Grapes 85-81 166
Paul Franke 83-84 167
Derek Canady 85-82 167
Jon Strangstalien 85-82 167
Randy Blank 86-81 167
Robert Schoen 89-79 168
Bjorn Berg 93-77 170
Daron Schmitz 88-84 172
Carsen Dellemann 94-78 172
Marty J. Blocker 89-86 175
Jamie Eklov 86-93 179
Tim Peterson 103-88 191

THIRD FLIGHT    
Greg Espenes 80-91 171
Jeff Meyer 84-88 172
Scott Hackworth 86-86 172
Eric Flack 89-83 172
Edward Malone 86-87 173
Daniel M. Breeden 93-82 175
Tony Mueller 86-90 176
Jeff Osgood 86-91 177
John Bahr 84-97 181
Bob Sciborski 95-87 182
Kyle Larkin 91-94 185
Leon McNutt 96-89 185
Jon Mueller 103-99 202
Tom Morris 101 DNF

FOURTH FLIGHT   
Keith Seidel 90-89 179
Jim Dolesy 93-88 181
Andrew Lindseth 92-93 185
Marv Davis 92-95 187
Marty J. Gora 92-97 189
Bob Roers 95-96 191
Tom Johnson 98-94 192
Eberhard Bosse 93-101 194
Ronald Puestow 99-96 195
Monte Jacobson 103-92 195
Steve Crogan 103-99 202
Jeff Krueger 103-100 203
Edward Hoskin 103-103 206
Kyle Koske DQ

2019 LA CROSSE COUNTY AMATEUR MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
AS PRESENTED BY PEPSI-COLA OF LA CROSSE

Sunday's Final Round Pairings
Drugan's Castle Mound-Holmen
(Par-35-36-71)         

THIRD FLIGHT (1st TEE)

7:30 A.M.    
Jon Mueller    
Tom Morris        

7:39 A.M.
Leon McNutt    
Bob Sciborski    
Daniel M. Breeden
        
7:48 A.M.    
Kyle Larkin    
Eric Flack    
Scott Hackworth        

7:57 A.M.    
Jeff Osgood    
Tony Mueller    
Edward Malone
        
8:06 A.M.    
John Bahr    
Jeff Meyer    
Greg Espenes    

FOURTH FLIGHT (10th TEE)        
7:30 A.M.    
Steve Crogan    
Monte Jacobson        

7:39 A.M.    
Edward Hoskin    
Jeff Krueger

7:48 A.M.    
Ronald Puestow    
Tom Johnson    
Bob Roers
       
7:57 A.M.    
Eberhard Bosse    
Jim Dolesy    
Marty J. Gora        

8:06 A.M.    
Marv Davis    
Andrew Lindseth    
Keith Seidel    
    
SECOND FLIGHT (10th TEE)    
11:30 A.M.    
Tim Peterson    
Carsen Dellemann    
    
11:39 A.M.    
Bjorn Berg    
Robert Schoen    
Marty J. Blocker    
    
11:48 A.M.    
Daron Schmitz    
Jamie Eklov    
Randy Blank    
    
11:57 A.M.    
Thomas Grapes    
Derek Canady    
Jon Strangstalien    
    
12:06 P.M.    
Paul Franke    
Roy Brock    
Tony Friedl    
    
FIRST FLIGHT (10th TEE)
12:15 P.M.
Jordan Rudolph
Kurt Peters
 
12:24 P.M.
Paul Bruha
Zach Elliott
Wes Snyder
 
12:33 P.M.
Rahn Pischke
Larry Peterson
Jim Jenkins
 
12:42 P.M.
Blaine Mason
Trevor Schultz
Mitch Gault
 
12:51 P.M.
Randy Olson
Jeff Pigorsch
Bruce Lindseth
 
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT (1st TEE)  
11:30 A.M  
Almann Brague  
Eric Olson  
 
11:39 A.M  
Mark Miller  
Quinn Schultz  
 
11:48 A.M  
Evan Friedl  
Ben Korger  
Joel Preeshl  
 
11:57 A.M  
Andy Tomashek  
Jordan Graf  
Tom McClintock  
 
12:06 P.M.  
Mike Drugan  
Dan Lenz  
John Percy  
 
12:15 P.M.  
Mike Bistodeau  
Paul Williamson  
Aaron Bishop  
 
12:24 P.M.  
Jon Wilson  
Tony Roberts  
Carson Brock  

12:33 P.M.  
Eric Johnson  
Bennett Hutson  
Connor Frawley  
 
12:42 P.M.  
Derek Iverson  
Nick Tomlinson  
Drew Schroeder  
 
12:51 P.M.  
Cody Dirks  
Ben Skogen  
Tyler Church  

ONALASKA, WI - Is this Tyler Church's year?
Will Ben Skogen pull off his second straight victory?
Could young gun Cody Dirks surprise both Church and Skogen, or could someone else rise from the pack and pull off an upset?
We'll see on Sunday during the final day of the 29th annual La Crosse County Amateur Men's Golf Championship as presented by Pepsi-Cola of La Crosse at Drugan's Castle Mound Country Club in Holmen.
Church (pictured) stormed to a 3-under par 68 at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek in Onalaska on Saturday. Skogen, 24, who won his first County Am title last year, managed 70, while 18-year-old Dirks turned in a 71.
That's your threesome for Sunday's final tee time at 12:51 p.m. Another large crowd is expected to follow the last few groups as it has for the previous 28 years. Saturday's opening day crowd was one of the largest ever, but Sunday's could prove to be a record setter.
Church shot 4-under par 32 on the front side on Saturday before finishing with 1-over 36 on the back nine. Skogen shot 34-36, including a bogey 5 on the 18th hole.
Dirks managed 37-34-71 and joins Skogen.
Meanwhile, Jeff Pigorsch and Bruce Lindseth pace the First Flight with 75, three strokes lower than Randy Olson.
Tony Friedl is atop Second Flight with 80, two shots better than Roy Brock.
Greg Espenes leads Third Flight with 80, while Keith Seidel has a two-stroke advantage in Fourth Flight with 90.
 
2019 LA CROSSE COUNTY AMATEUR MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP     
AS PRESENTED BY PEPSI-COLA OF LA CROSSE     
     
Saturday's Results     
The Golf Club at Cedar Creek     
In Onalaska, WI     
(Par 36-35 71)     
 
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT   
Tyler Church 32-36 68
Ben Skogen 34-36 70
Cody Dirks 37-34 71
Derek Iverson 35-39 74
Nick Tomlinson 38-36 74
Drew Schroeder 38-36 74
Eric Johnson 39-36 75
Bennett Hutson 38-37 75
Connor Frawley 36-39 75
Carson Brock 39-37 76
Jon Wilson 39-38 77
Tony Roberts 40-37 77
Paul Williamson 38-39 77
Aaron Bishop 40-37 77
Mike Bistodeau 39-39 78
John Percy 41-37 78
Dan Lenz 40-38 78
Mike Drugan 40-39 79
Andy Tomashek 41-38 79
Jordan Graf 37-42 79
Tom McClintock 40-39 79
Joel Preeshl 38-41 79
Ben Korger 42-39 81
Evan Friedl 39-42 81
Quinn Schultz 38-43 81
Mark Miller 40-43 83
Eric Olson 38-45 83
Almann Brague 41-43 84
Jake Dunn WD

FIRST FLIGHT   
Jeff Pigorsch 40-35 75
Bruce Lindseth 38-37 75
Randy Olson 39-39 78
Mitch Gault 39-40 79
Trevor Schultz 41-39 80
Blaine Mason 42-39 81
Jim Jenkins 40-42 82
Rahn Pischke 39-45 84
Larry Peterson 40-44 84
Wes Snyder 40-45 85
Zach Elliott 44-44 88
Paul Bruha 47-42 89
Jordan Rudolph 44-46 90
Kurt Peters 46-44 90
Rick Stewart DNS

SECOND FLIGHT     
Tony Friedl 40-40 80  
Roy Brock 40-42 82  
Paul Franke 44-39 83  
Thomas Grapes 42-43 85  
Derek Canady 41-44 85  
Jon Strangstalien 45-40 85  
Jamie Eklov 41-45 86  
Randy Blank 44-42 86  
Daron Schmitz 43-45 88  
Robert Schoen 46-43 89  
Marty J. Blocker 47-42 89  
Bjorn Berg 48-45 93  
Carsen Dellemann 40-54 94  
Tim Peterson 51-52 103

THIRD FLIGHT
Greg Espenes 41-39 80
John Bahr 45-39 84
Jeff Meyer 42-42 84
Jeff Osgood 46-40 86
Scott Hackworth 40-46 86
Tony Mueller 41-45 86
Edward Malone 41-45 86
Eric Flack 44-45 89
Kyle Larkin 46-45 91
Daniel M. Breeden 47-46 93
Bob Sciborski 47-48 95
Leon McNutt 50-46 96
Tom Morris 53-48 101
Jon Mueller 48-55 103
 
FOURTH FLIGHT    
Keith Seidel 43-47 90
Andrew Lindseth 46-46 92
Marv Davis 46-46 92
Marty J. Gora 46-46 92
Eberhard Bosse 43-50 93
Jim Dolesy 44-49 93
Bob Roers 49-46 95
Tom Johnson 47-51 98
Ronald Puestow 50-49 99
Edward Hoskin 54-49 103
Jeff Krueger 50-53 103
Steve Crogan 51-52 103
Monte Jacobson 49-54 103
Kyle Koske DQ
 

Ben Skogen (pictured) says he's ready to defend his title in the 29th annual La Crosse County Amateur Golf Championships as presented by Pepsi-Cola of La Crosse.
The 36-hole tournament begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek in Onalaska, then moves north to Drugan's Castle Mound Country Club in Holmen for the final 18 holes on Sunday.
Skogen, a former WIAA state champion at Onalaska High School and a four-year letterman on the University of Wisconsin Badgers' golf team before graduating in 2018, shot an even par 70 at Castle Mound for a three-stroke victory in Championship Flight last year.
Coupled with a 2-under par 69 at Cedar Creek, Skogen finished at 139, four shots lower than runner-up Jake Dunn.
Skogen said he had a simple philosophy last year.
"My major strategy was to play against myself and not against the other players because I've done that in the past," said the 24-year-old right-hander. "I just wanted to keep the pedal to the metal. Fortunately, I did that and came out on top."
Skogen hopes that strategy carries through again this year.
"I just have to play against myself and the golf course," he said. "It's pointless to worry about how other people are playing."
However, Skogen realizes it won't be easy.
"There are several good players. I just have to play good again and see what happens," he said, refusing to mention other top contenders. "I'm not saying names because there is a bunch."
Skogen recalls last year's title like it was yesterday and says he has everlasting memories.
"Last year's title was awesome. To just see how tight-knit the La Crosse golf community is, having all those fans following us and to have your name on that trophy with all those other guys is something I'll always remember."
Skogen grew up at the par-36 layout at Coulee Golf Bowl in Onalaska, but also knows both County Am tourney courses very well. He was extremely pleased with his 2-under 69 the first day at Cedar Creek.
"Usually, I play way better at Castle Mound, but it was nice to get a head start and three-shot lead after the first day at Cedar Creek," he said.
Skogen played in the 2015 and 2017 County Amateurs, finishing fourth both times. He majored in communications at the University of Wisconsin and for the past six months has been a shift manager at the Onalaska Festival Foods store.
"I love the job, the people and what the company stands for - leadership!" he said.
Skogen honed his leadership skills early. He was co-captain his junior year and captain his senior year at Onalaska High School. He also was the Badgers captain his senior year. He wants to be the leader by the end of Sunday's final County Amateur round, too.

2019 LA CROSSE COUNTY MEN'S AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

AS PRESENTED BY PEPSI-COLA OF LA CROSSE        
        
Saturday's First-Round Pairings        
At The Golf Club at Cedar Creek        
In Onalaska, WI        
(Par-36-35-71)        
        
Men's Fourth Flight - 10th Tee        
7:30 a.m.
Edward Hoskin
Jeff Krueger

7:39 a.m.
Ronald Puestow
Steve Crogan
Eberhard Bosse

7:48 a.m.        
Tom Johnson
Andrew Lindseth
Marv Davis

7:57 a.m.        
Marty J. Gora
Kyle Koske
Bob Roers

8:06 a.m.        
Monte Jacobson
Jim Dolesy
Keith Seidel

Men's Third Flight - First Tee        
7:30 a.m.
Greg Espenes
Leon McNutt

7:39 a.m.
Edward Malone
Jon Mueller
Bob Sciborski

7:48 a.m.
Tom Morris
John Bahr
Daniel M. Breeden

7:57 a.m.        
Kyle Larkin
Jeff Osgood
Eric Flack

8:06 a.m.        
Scott Hackworth
Jeff Meyer
Tony Mueller

Men's Second Flight - 10th Tee        
11:30 a.m.    
Robert Schoen
Daron Schmitz

11:39 a.m.        
Thomas Grapes
Paul Franke
Bjorn Berg

11:48 a.m.        
Roy Brock
Derek Canady
Tim Peterson

11:57 a.m.        
Jamie Eklov
Jon    Strangstalien
Randy Blank

12:06 p.m.        
Tony Friedl
Carsen Dellemann
Marty J. Blocker

Men's First Flight - 10th Tee        
12:15 p.m.        
Zach Elliott
Rahn Pischke
Wes Snyder

12:24 p.m.
Randy Olson
Jordan Rudolph
Blaine Mason

12:33 p.m.        
Paul Bruha
Trevor Schultz
Jim Jenkins

12:42 p.m.        
Jeff Pigorsch
Mitch Gault
Kurt Peters

12:51 p.m.        
Larry Peterson
Rick Stewart
Bruce Lindseth

Men's Championship Flight - First Tee        
11:30 a.m.    
Mark Miller
Jon Wilson

11:39 a.m.    
Mike Bistodeau
Almann Brague
Ben Korger

11:48 a.m.        
Mike Drugan
Evan Friedl
Eric Johnson

11:57 a.m.        
John Percy
Carson Brock
Derek Iverson

12:06 p.m.        
Dan Lenz
Andy Tomashek
Jordan Graf

12:15 p.m.        
Cody Dirks
Quinn Schultz
Eric Olson

12:24 p.m.        
Tony Roberts
Paul Williamson
Tom McClintock

12:33 p.m.        
Bennett Hutson
Connor Frawley
Nick Tomlinson

12:42 p.m.        
Aaron Bishop
Joel Preeshl
Drew Schroeder

12:51 p.m.        
Jake Dunn
Tyler Church
Ben Skogen