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Behm feels pressure is off

JANESVILLE — Matt Behm's mindset is a little different heading into this weekend's 42nd annual Ray Fischer State Medal Play Championship at Riverside Golf Course.

But the Janesville resident and state's fifth-ranked amateur golfer's main objective remains the same—find a way to win his second Fischer title in three years.

The 29-year old Behm, who will tee off on hole No. 10 at 12:30 p.m. Friday to begin the 72-hole tournament, is one of five Janesville golfers entered. There are 163 golfers in the field, including Burlington native and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who is scheduled to tee off at 12:10 p.m. Friday on the back nine.

In winning the 2006 Fischer title, Behm put together an incredible stretch, He finished with a record score of 22-under par, including a course-record 62 in the second round. Making the 22-under score even more impressive was that Behm did it in three rounds after the final round was cancelled because of heavy rain.

Last year, however, Behm failed to finish in the top five as former University of Wisconsin golfer Garrett Jones cruised to victory and tied the tournament record at 22 under. Jones is not back to defend his title, but Behm said that won't have any affect on his game.

"There was a lot of self-pressure that I felt last year trying to defend my title," Behm said. "This year, I'm not going to put pressure on myself to shoot a certain score or worry so much about what everybody shot.

"I'm looking forward to just going out and playing my game. I'm going in with a much more positive attitude than I did last year."

Behm finished fifth in the Player of the Year standings in 2007 and says his game is in pretty good shape.

The short Riverside course is a birdie haven for the state's best amateur players, and Behm believes the tournament record he shares with Jones could be in jeopardy.

"You really have to shoot at least 68 each round to have a chance," Behm said of the par-72 course. "All four of the par-5s play like par-4s, and you need to really birdie all four of them to keep up.

"Despite all the rain and flooding in the area, the course is in great shape. The greens are rolling out, and everybody will be firing at the pins. Everybody loves to come here and play in this tournament."

The field will be cut to the top 70 players, including ties, after 36 holes. The player are seeded after Saturday's cuts with 36 holes scheduled on Sunday.

Romo's eligibility

Despite a six-year, $67 million contract—including $30 million in guaranteed money—with the Dallas Cowboys, Romo is eligible to play in the Fischer.

Romo signed up with his father, Ramiro. They both play out of Burlington's Browns Lake Golf Course.

Romo is a professional football player, but retains his amateur status as a golfer. In order to become a professional golfer, you must play in a sanctioned PGA tournament and accept a cash payout.

As an amateur player, Romo is allowed to accept $750 or less in merchandise. The first prize payout a year ago at the Fischer was $650, which is given as a voucher to the Pro Shop at Riverside.

Romo definitely would be a contender for the Fischer title. He shot an 84 on the same Torrey Pines course that Tiger Woods earned his U.S. Open victory earlier this month.

Will Romo actually show up and play? Will an appearance by girlfriend Jessica Simpson complete the circus-type atmosphere?

Stay tuned.

RAY FISCHER CHAMPIONSHIP TEE TIMES

At Janesville Riverside

TEE TIMES

Friday-Saturday

No. 1-No. 10

7 a.m.-12 p.m.—Nicholas Engen (McFarland), Shaun Jan (Fox Point), Mike Lewis (Appleton), Larry Tefertiller (Monroe).

7:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.—John Bailey (Madison), Tim Freres (Kenosha), Michael Luedtke (Madison), Brent Quade (Monroe).

7:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.—Matt Kersten (Janesville), Michael Masik Jr. (Racine), Charles Randolph (Glendale), Daniel Zimmerman (Verona).

7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.—Erik Botts (Beloit), Mitch Bowers (Mineral Point), Ryan Coffey (Janesville), Matthew Mitschke (Milwaukee).

7:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.—John Bechard (Wind Lake), Mark Busalaechi (New Berlin), Max Hosking (Madison), Mike Saunders (Oregon).

7:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.—Scott Brooks (Racine), Troy Jastal (Stevens Point), Keith Stelzer (Green Bay), Bill Winkler (Racine).

8 a.m.-1 p.m.—Stuart Grendahl (McFarland), Ben Lind (Stevens Point), Andrew Markiewicz (South Milwaukee), Corey Sell (Oconomowoc).

8:10 a.m.-1:10 p.m.—King Clark (Janesville), Andy Hosking (Madison), Tyler Leis (Eau Claire), Ross Michler (Whitefish Bay).

8:20 a.m.-1:20 p.m.—Billy Crimmins (Mequon), Nick Krattiger (Monroe), Rick Rutter (Oak Creek), Michael Schlaak (Appleton).

8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.—Sam Luedtke (South Milwaukee), Scott Perme (Madison), Will Peterson (Albany), Greg Thatcher (Cudahy).

8:40 a.m.-1:40 p.m.—Logan Kranz (McFarland), Bob Stilling (Cambridge), Mark Vance (Madison), Peter Wendt (Lake Mills).

———

Noon-7 a.m.—Andy Hansen (Mequon), T.J. Klement (McFarland), Brian Menzel (Pewaukee), Kevin Van Rossum (Hartland).

12:10 p.m.-7:10 a.m.—Joel Brakken (Whitewater), Mike Hoff (Milton), Travis Meyer (River Falls), Bill Strey (Twin Lakes).

12:20 p.m.-7:20 p.m.—Adam Eggebrecht (Eau Claire), Jonathan Fall (Milwaukee), Andy Hagen (Beloit), Nathan Kollath (Green Bay).

12:30 p.m.-7:30 a.m.—Peter Howery (McFarland), Jason Navarro (Waukesha), Scott Pirkl (Stoughton), Ryan Prickette (Neenah).

12:40 p.m.-7:40 a.m.—Eric Busalaechi (Waukesha), Martin Cherney Jr. (Waukesha), Bob Hillman (Fox Point), Jerry Rossi (Menomonee Falls).

12:50 p.m.-7:50 a.m.—Alex Beaudry (Franklin), Patrick Cahill (Waukesha), Kevin Hough (New Berlin), Jim Thiel (Franklin).

1 p.m.-8 a.m.—Kevin Cahill (Waukesha), Garrett Gosh (Pewaukee), Tyler Obermueller (River Falls), Andrew Troyanek (Burlington).

1:10 p.m.-8:10 a.m.—Jim Covelli (Racine), Archie Dadian (South Milwaukee), Steve Noble (Greendale), Gary Petit (Monroe).

1:20 p.m.-8:20 a.m.—Bruce Hansen (Racine), John Pallin (Kenosha), Dave Preboske (Monroe), Dave Ullenberg (Menomonee Falls).

1:30 p.m.-8:30 a.m.—Matt Adams (New Berlin), Lou Luedtke (South Milwaukee), Duaine Olson (Luck), Jim Steck (New Berlin).

———

No. 10-No. 1

7 a.m.-noon—Bill Crinzi (New Berlin), Daryl Flemion (Milwaukee), Eric Goldapske (Sun Prairie), Adam Steinhofer (Madison).

7:10 a.m.-12:10 p.m.—Andy De Keuster (Franksville), Tom Halla (Colgate), Geoff LaFleur (New Berlin), Phil Plautz Sr. (Greenfield).

7:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m.—Cory Aune (Elkhorn), Michael Flynn (Middleton), Steve Peterson (Oconto), Dana Radavich (Middleton).

7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.—Keith Bunstrock (Franklin), Bob Kohl (Waukesha), Myles Miller (Delafield), Bo Van Handel (De Pere).

7:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.—Jim Burge Jr. (Jefferson), Alex Gaugert (Lake Geneva), Paul Jacobsen (Racine), Jacob LaConte (Waukesha).

7:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m.—Danny Behm (Jackson), Jeff Kaether (McFarland), Jonathan Kemman (Beloit), Todd Schaap (Kenosha).

8 a.m.-1 p.m.—David Comeau (Lake Geneva), Robert Kuster (Milwaukee), Jon Oaks (Waukesha), Sean Sanguansap (Franklin).

8:10 a.m.-1:10 p.m.—Austin Gaugert (Lake Geneva), Todd Schalinske (Burlington), Dustin Schwab (Waunakee), Robert Yurasovich (St. Francis).

8:20 a.m.-1:20 p.m.—Brendt Bendtsen (Racine), Patrick Duffy (Appleton), Andrew Steinhofer (Madison), Thomas Thompson (North Prairie).

8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.—Shane Bacher (Madison), Bobby Kennedy (Janesville), Michael Quinlan (Menomonee Falls), Jeff Selgren (Elkhorn).

———

Noon-7 a.m.—Mike Greb (Racine), Bruce Henning (Brookfield), Mike Lund (Stoughton), Adam McCarthy (Waukesha).

12:10 p.m.-7:10 a.m.—Aaron Gavin (South Milwaukee), Matt Olmschenk (Richfield), Tony Romo (Burlington), Jim Scharnberg (Greendale).

12:20 p.m.-8:10 a.m.—Mark Allan Disrud (Fitchburg), Paul Koszarek (Waterford), Ramiro Romo (Burlington), Brett Tautges (Hartford).

12:30 p.m.-7:30 a.m.—Matt Behm (Janesville), John Hogan (Land O'Lakes), Jonathan Klemp (Mequon), John Staehler (Caledonia).

12:40 p.m.-7:40 a.m.—Jeff Corcoran (Waukesha), Dale Konieczny (Greendale), Tim O'Brien (Mequon), Kevin Swanson (Sheboygan).

12:50 p.m-7:50 a.m.—Robert Czaplewski (Big Bend), Jacob Lammert (Hartland), Michael Scheitinger (Mukwonago), Bob Tierney (Burlington).

1 p.m.-8 a.m.—Steven Johnson (Mequon), Thomas Komassa (South Milwaukee), Michael McDonald (Germantown), K.R. Rucker (Eau Claire).

1:10 p.m.-8:10 a.m.—Pat Boyle (South Milwaukee), Eric Dietrich (Brown Deer), Robert Gregorski (Menasha), Brian O'Connell (Monona).

1:20 p.m.-8:20 a.m.—Tim Barber (Milwaukee), John Haines (Mequon), Tim Monfeli (Racine), Todd Westrich (Green Bay).

1:30 p.m.-8:30 a.m.—Troy Bilderback (Waunakee), Mike Hilton (Muskego), Nathan Schwarz (Appleton), Brent Wong (Franklin).

FORMER CHAMPIONS

(72 holes unless indicated)

1967—Dave Lund, 299; 1968—Jim Archer, 287; 1969—Frank Tenfel, 297.

1970—Steve Caravello, 284; 1971—Mike Plautz, 293; 1972—Archie Dadian, 284; 1973—Bobby Mann, 283; 1974—Archie Dadian, 281; 1975—Archie Dadian, 292; 1976—Keith Meyer, 289; 1977—Mark Bemowski, 287; 1978—Archie Dadian, 140 (36 holes); 1979—Al Peters, 280.

1980—Bruce Hansen, 288; 1981—Jim Andresen, 284.

(Played at Riverside)

1982—Archie Dadian, 284; 1983—Bruce Hansen, 286; 1984—Brad Hauer, 279; 1985—Skip Kendall, 273; 1986—Brent Wong, 280; 1987—Mark Bemowski, 280; 1988—Jeff Radder, 283; 1989—Steve Stricker (Edgerton).

1990—John Pallin, 280; 1991—John Pallin, 274; 1992—Jim Pejka, 277; 1993—Ben Walter, 280; 1994—Kirk Weiland, 276; 1995—Tom Strong, 270; 1996—Bob Gregorski, 277; 1997—David Roesch, 277; 1998—Bob Gregorski, 272; 1999—Mark Bemowski, 276.

2000—Pat Boyle, 272; 2001—Gary Menzel, 275; 2002—Mark Bemowski, 273; 2003—Charlie Delsman, 267; 2004—Lee Grusczynski, 272 (won two-hole playoff over Derek Pirkl); 2005—Charlie Delsman, 271;. 2006—Matt Behm (Janesville), 194 (54 holes; shortened by rain); 2007—Garrett Jones, 266.