Local golfer competes at state jr. tourney

By Dan Larson, Sauk Prairie Eagle

While R.J. Budd probably knew his chances of winning the Wisconsin State Golf Association Junior Boy's Championship were slim, he can't complain about how he finished.

The 13-year-old from Prairie du Sac, who will be an eighth-grader at Sauk Prairie Middle School this fall, shot a 22-over-par 232 at the 54-hole tournament held at Nakoma Golf Course in Madison, good enough for a fourth-place tie in the 13-14-year old division.

He finished 65th overall in the 192-individual field and 25 strokes behind the winner, Madison Edgewood senior-to-be Cody Strang, who shot a 207.

Budd was in 42nd place after shooting a 75 in the first round, but finished with scores of 77 and 80 at the par-70 course to fall to 64th.

The top 84 scorers after day two were invited to play in the final round.

Budd has also been selected as one of two 13-year-olds to represent Wisconsin in a Ryder Cup format junior tournament next month, according to his Dad, Jeff.

The team consists of 12 players — two for each age between 9 and 14 — and faces a team from Minnesota.

The tournament is Sept. 12 and 13 at Bristlecone Pines in Hartland.

Budd wasn't on last year's team, which took first in a similar format at the Illinois Youth Four State Challenge against teams from Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana, according to the Wisconsin Junior Golf organization's Web site.