Tyler Leach is a graduate student on the Marquette golf team. (Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics.)

Twelve combined current and former Marquette men’s golfers competed in the 102nd annual Ward Wisconsin State Open at Ozaukee Country Club this year.

Sophomore Patrick Adler said competing in his first Wisconsin Open helped him gain more confidence.

“I played in the Illinois Open a couple weeks before the Wisconsin Open and didn’t play that well,” Leach said. “So (now) knowing that I can compete on a tougher course and compete with a lot of the best players in Wisconsin, it’s a really good confidence booster heading into the college season.”

Adler got out to a strong start on Day 1, hitting a birdie on the 410-yard par four first hole. On day two, he set himself up for the second half of the event with a two under 68, his low round for the week.

He said he noticed the differences between playing on college and pro courses.

“Even though (college and professional) courses play similar, our college courses are usually longer, but have more open fairways, unlike the narrow Ozaukee,” Adler said.

Additionally, Adler said for those that made the final day of competing there was an advantage for the collegiate players such as himself.

“Not many (professional) players in the field other than the very few college guys play 36 holes that often,” Adler said. “And in most tournaments in college, you’re always playing 36 holes so having the endurance really is something that’s pretty understated.”

Meanwhile, for graduate student Tyler Leach, this year marked the fifth time he competed in the oldest and largest major golf event conducted by the Wisconsin PGA.

Leach first competed in the event in 2017, when he still was at Spring Valley High School. He said his preparation has changed from his first year to now.

“I just (have) become much more methodical in how I practice and prepare prior to the event,” Leach said. “Back then I didn’t have a very scheduled out practice plan. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to realize that you need to have that scheduled practice and need to have certain measurable drills that you’re doing”

Leach extended his streak to four consecutive years of making the cut between the second and third day of competing. He said he credits that methodical practice routine he established to his success.

“My maturity in my practice has allowed me to see a similar trend in how I play,” Leach said. “It’s one of those events I play in every year that I always want to win, I haven’t been able to do it, but I’m knocking on the door.

Recent Marquette golfer Hunter Eichhorn also competed in the open. The three-time Big East Player of the Year turned pro this summer and said he credits Marquette head coach Steve Bailey for preparing him for the next chapter of his career.

“Marquette was a major stepping stone in my development,” Eichhorn said. “I definitely improved in some areas that needed to get better at, but mentally and emotionally on the golf course is where I grew the most in my time there.”

Thirty-six holes on the final day were not enough to crown a champion, as Eichhorn and Daniel Mazziotta went an additional three playoff holes.

Eichhorn finished as runner-up and shy of the $12,000 grand prize after one of his putts reached the hole and spun away without dropping in as daylight disappeared.

“I hit some good putts in the playoffs that unfortunately just missed by a small margin but that’s how it goes sometimes,” Eichhorn said. “I’ve played plenty of rounds later in the day in my lifetime so it wasn’t anything unfamiliar to me, it just didn’t work out.”

Marquette kicks off its season later this week when it travels to Madison for the Badger Invitational at University Ridge Golf Course Sept. 11-13.

Adler said competing in the Wisconsin Open was a beneficial experience as he heads into his final year of eligibility.

“It’s a really good reassurance to know that I’m on the right track because I have aspirations of playing professionally,” Adler said. “Knowing that I have the game to do it now and able to compete with professional players, I can only go up from here.”

This article was written by Trevor Hilson. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @hilsontrevor.