Winona State, University of Wisconsin players sit atop State Am leaderboard after Round 1

The 124^th playing of the Wisconsin State Amateur began on July 21 at The Lido, a semi-private course on the Sand Valley property in Nekoosa.

Jack Rubo of Minocqua took the first-round lead with a 6-under par 66, a round that included eight birdies against just two bogeys. Rubo, who plays at Winona State University, carded the most birdies of any player.

He is one shot clear of University of Wisconsin player Charlie Erlandson, who made six birdies against a single bogey.

Garrett Jones shot 1-under to open the defense of his title.There has not been a back-to-back champion since Ryan Quinn won in 2001 and 2002.

Quinn, a Galesville native and one of the most accomplished amateur players in WSGA history and a Wisconsin State Golf Hall of Famer, now plays out of Bloomington, Illinois. He shot a 3-under 69 to put himself in the hunt. Vincent Sigl (Seymour), Luke Taebel (Holmen) and Griffin Pohl (Sturgeon Bay) joined Quinn at 3-under.

Seven other past champions teed it up for the first of four rounds, including Milwaukee’s Jack Schultz (74) and Nick Nelson (75), Menasha’s Bob Gregorski (78), Slinger’s Mike McDonald (78) Hudson’s Tyler Obermueller (75), Travis Meyer of River Falls (78) and South Milwaukee’s Pat Boyle (92).

Burlington native, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS analyst Tony Romo was once again in the field and shot an 8-over 80.

Opened for play in 2023, Lido was quickly named a host site of the state amateur and will host the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2026. The resort, which is home to five golf courses, also hosted the 2022 state amateur where Obermueller won on the Sand Valley course.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Winona State, Wisconsin players sit atop State Am leaderboard