WAUKESHA - Monroe native Nick Krattiger found his way into the rough a little more than he might have liked in the third round of the WSGA Wisconsin State Amateur Championship at Merrill Hills Country Club, Wednesday. Krattiger shot a 2-over-par 73, pinning him in a four-way tie for 13th place at 7-over-par overall and nine shots off the pace of leaders Jordan Elsen and Tyler Obermueller.
"I wish I could have gotten going a little bit earlier than I did," Krattiger said.
He double-bogeyed the first hole. His drive put him in the rough 155 yards downhill from the pin.
"I hit a monster 9-iron. After that, I just wanted to chip it on to save myself but I just couldn't get it up and down."
Bogey's on the par-four fourth and sixth holes had Krattiger reeling early at 4-over par on the day. But a strong finish on the tricky seventh hole helped him pick up the momentum he had Tuesday.
In the first round, Krattiger shot a double-bogey on the seventh, a hole that is known for its sloping green. On Tuesday, Krattiger shot four to par the hole, and on Wednesday, he nailed a 20-foot downhill putt for birdie. His drive had left him about 200 yards from the green, and with the pin sitting on the left side, his 5-iron approach left him above the hole.
After shooting par on the final two holes of the front nine, Krattiger went into the back carrying some momentum. Pars on both 10 and 11 helped him keep his confidence up.
"I always tell myself to play my game and to stay focused. Don't worry about the other guys around you."
A bogey on the par-three 12th challenged that focus, but Krattiger said by then he was nearly on his game entirely.
"If you have a bad hole, you just need to forget it and worry about the next one," he said.
Krattiger then birdied the 14th and 18th to go along with four other pars and finished the back nine 1-under par.
"I didn't want to stop playing after that. I was really getting going," Krattiger said.
The 2005 Monroe High School graduate tees off at 10:40 a.m. with Ross Wilhelm and Craig Cerbins, both of whom are also tied for 13th place.
"It's fun being out there with other guys that you know can play. (And) a later tee time is always nice," Krattiger said. "I feel really comfortable out there. I still think I can break 70."
"I wish I could have gotten going a little bit earlier than I did," Krattiger said.
He double-bogeyed the first hole. His drive put him in the rough 155 yards downhill from the pin.
"I hit a monster 9-iron. After that, I just wanted to chip it on to save myself but I just couldn't get it up and down."
Bogey's on the par-four fourth and sixth holes had Krattiger reeling early at 4-over par on the day. But a strong finish on the tricky seventh hole helped him pick up the momentum he had Tuesday.
In the first round, Krattiger shot a double-bogey on the seventh, a hole that is known for its sloping green. On Tuesday, Krattiger shot four to par the hole, and on Wednesday, he nailed a 20-foot downhill putt for birdie. His drive had left him about 200 yards from the green, and with the pin sitting on the left side, his 5-iron approach left him above the hole.
After shooting par on the final two holes of the front nine, Krattiger went into the back carrying some momentum. Pars on both 10 and 11 helped him keep his confidence up.
"I always tell myself to play my game and to stay focused. Don't worry about the other guys around you."
A bogey on the par-three 12th challenged that focus, but Krattiger said by then he was nearly on his game entirely.
"If you have a bad hole, you just need to forget it and worry about the next one," he said.
Krattiger then birdied the 14th and 18th to go along with four other pars and finished the back nine 1-under par.
"I didn't want to stop playing after that. I was really getting going," Krattiger said.
The 2005 Monroe High School graduate tees off at 10:40 a.m. with Ross Wilhelm and Craig Cerbins, both of whom are also tied for 13th place.
"It's fun being out there with other guys that you know can play. (And) a later tee time is always nice," Krattiger said. "I feel really comfortable out there. I still think I can break 70."
