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Loaded field: Six former champs chase city men’s golf title

JANESVILLE — A star-studded field should make for an exciting Janesville Men’s City Golf Championship.

Six former champions are scheduled to compete in the 54-hole event that tees off Friday at the Janesville Country Club. Saturday’s second round will be played at Glen Erin Golf Club, followed by Sunday’s 18-hole finale at Riverside Golf Course.

Sam Van Galder will be looking to become the first repeat winner since Chris Pastore won back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996. Pastore is not entered this year, but former champions Jeff Bruegger, Ryan Coffey, Brent Kern, Matt Behm and Brad Bohlman are in the field.

Bruegger has won five city titles, while Behm and Bohlman have won two each.

Van Galder, who will be a senior at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., has been battling a pinched nerve in his neck but hopes to be near 100 percent for the tournament.

“It’s getting better,” Van Galder said of the injury. “The only time it really hurts is when I overswing.

“But I’m excited to be back to defend my title. I know there are quite a few guys that are capable of winning it all.

“You have to play each course a little bit differently. If I can keep it around par at the Club on Friday, that would put me in good shape for the weekend.”

Van Galder transferred to Rollins this past year and finished the golf season with a 77.66 scoring average. He won last year’s City Championship with a 1-over-par 144 total.

Last year’s tournament was shortened to 36 holes after heavy rains cancelled play in the opening round at the Janesville Country Club.

Although he didn’t play a year ago, Behm enters the 59th annual tournament as one of the favorites. He will be coming off the Wisconsin State Amateur, where he entered today’s final round in the 10, and he holds the Riverside course record with a 10-under par 62.

“It’s nice to be able to play in the city this year,” Behm said. “Last year I had other (golf) commitments and couldn’t play.

“I like my chances, especial ly if I’m close going into Sunday’s final round at Riverside, but I know guys like Bruegger and Van Galder are going to be tough to beat if they’re playing well. Hopefully, the three of us will be in the last group on Sunday.”

Bohlman claimed his last city title in 2001, while Coffey won his championship in 2002.

This year’s tournament has 140 entrants. There are five flights, including 28 golfers in a first-time D Flight.

JANESVILLE MEN'S CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

FRIDAY TEE TIMES

At Janesville Country Club

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

No. 1 Tee

7:00—Brent Kern, Matt Behm, Michael Spiegler.

7:08—Brad Bohlman, Braddy Bohlman, Jeff Bruegger.

7:16—Matt Kersten, Sam Van Galder, Bobby Kennedy.

7:24—King Clark, Aaron Coffey, Jerry Rabbach.

7:32—Charlie Roherty, Blair Schmeiser, Steve Babcock.

No. 10 Tee

7:00—Bill Kennedy, Doug Sheridan, Ryan Coffey.

7:08—Teegan Jacobson, Jacob Downing, Jon Phillips.

7:16—Eric Birkholz, Justin Ferguson, Aaron Rondon.

7:24—Michael Kleitzein, Mark Thomsen, Sam Larson.

7:32—Andrew Tearman, Sean Halvorson, Rob Ackerman.

A FLIGHT

No. 1 Tee

7:40—Jeff Farrell, Curt Goodwick.

7:48—Dan Milz, Steve Caya, Gary Neumueller.

7:56—Larry Schumacher, Dale Sopher, Gary Merk.

8:04—Pat Campbell, James Crawford.

No. 10 Tee

7:40—Mike Reid, Craig Folk, Dale Bladorn.

7:48—Jimmy Mead, Al Herbst, Dan Brown.

7:56—Matt Stried, George Larson, Gil DeCremer.

8:04—Tom Collins, Shannon Dooley, Dave DeGarmo.

B FLIGHT

No. 1 Tee

8:12—Brian Dunk, Dave Herr, John Zimmerman.

8:20—Bill Wipperman, Brian Rogula, Tony Russotto.

8:28—Steve Gelbach, John Husen, David Huibregtse.

8:36—Chad Sullivan, David Brown, Jake Hassinger.

8:44—Randy Krueger, Bryan Holder, David Bitter.

No. 10 Tee

8:12—Mike Mead, Matt Kempfler, Robert Kennedy Jr.

8:20—Lance Miller, Ron Pumilia, Mike Johnson.

8:28—Tim Millis, Brian Cherry, Jeff DeGarmo.

8:36—Steve Thurner, James Tullis, Tom Noll.

8:44—Greg Galvan, Joel Bailey, Rick Berry.

C FLIGHT

No. 1 Tee

11:16—Greg Mullen, Mike Tearman, Bill Hassinger.

11:24—Paul Burkholder, Dan Hermanson, Eric Scherdell.

11:32—Shawn Gregg, Efren Blanca, Todd Sitter.

11:40—Kevin Riley, Vryant Schaefer, Dean Hendrickson, Jason Jensen.

11:48—Jeff Waite, Bryan Thorson, Tim Ryan, Scot Hudson.

No. 10 Tee

11:16—Jeff Adams, Gary Dulin, Jeff Sheldon.

11:24—Steven Hiser, Brian Garey, Tom Vogt.

11:32—Keith Trembula, Scott Schadel, Cory Shea.

11:40—Larry Kotwitz, Jerry Shere, Mo Khan.

D FLIGHT

No. 1 Tee

11:56—Stephen Monroe, Loren Mathison, Bob Hendrickson.

12:04—Chad Salmon, Dennis Raabe, Richard Moore.

12:12—Jim Hudson, Craig Anderson, Steve McNally.

12:20—Carl Howard, Chris Campbell, Joe Sprecher, Bob Mussey.

No. 10 Tee

11:48—Steve Thurner, Dave Langowski, Mark Bestul.

11:56—Shawn Uschan, Matt DeWitt, Daryl Rosenbaum.

12:04—John Hutchinson, Nate Punzel, Mike Berg.

12:12—Dale Wright, George Pritchett, Greg Tanko.

12:20—Ken Creek, Steven Weiss, Ron Johnson, Brent Corey (A Flight).