WAUKESHA, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Amateur Championship has an unusual amount of star power this year.
The 123rd installment of the golf tournament, being played at The Legend at Merrill Hills through Thursday, had two professional athletes competing in the opening rounds Monday and Tuesday: former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo and Nick Schmaltz, center for the NHL’s newly minted Utah Hockey Club, formerly the Arizona Coyotes.
Although Romo, who grew up in Burlington, hadn’t seen this golf course before, this was his second straight appearance in the state amateur. His top-25 finish last year earned him an automatic bid for the 2024 tournament.
Schmaltz, however, had to play his way into the championship. The Madison native qualified without much preparation.
“I didn’t do a whole lot of prep to be honest,” Schmaltz said after the first round Monday. “I’m out here just to enjoy the competition, have some fun and hit some good golf shots.”
Schmaltz repeatedly mentioned that golf is something he does “on the side,” as if it’s just a hobby.
But for a hobby, he’s really good.
Schmaltz used to participate in the Wisconsin PGA Junior tours. As a 12- and 13-year-old, he played in five tours around the state, finishing as high as 28th in the 2008 Cold Water Canyon tournament.
Still, he says never thought seriously of golf as a profession over hockey.
“It’s always just been for fun,” he said. “I’ve never really done it competitively or practiced a ton; I just like to go out and play. I’ve always been a hockey player and just golf on the side. I just enjoy being out here. It’s a fun sport, it’s a tough sport and it challenges you in different ways.”
In 2014, the Chicago Blackhawks drafted the 18-year-old Schmaltz with the 20th pick. Before joining Chicago, Nick and his brother Jordan, the No. 25 pick in 2012 by St. Louis, led North Dakota to an NCAA title in 2016.
Later that year, he signed with the Blackhawks. Chicago traded him to Arizona in 2018, and he’s been with the franchise since.
Schmaltz returns to golf in the offseason every year, even as the Coyotes make the transition to Utah under new ownership.
“I’ve always played it in the summer time,” he said. “My brother, my dad, everyone likes to play. We try to get out there and just enjoy our time together.”
Last year, Schmaltz competed in the Madison Men’s City Championship. He placed third just four shots behind tournament winner Clayton Tribus. Tribus tied for eighth place in the 2023 State Amateur.
Notably, Schmaltz beat out Adam Miller in the City Championship. Miller tied for fourth in the 2024 Badgerland Invitational tournament (won by 2024 first-round State Amateur leader Ty Kretz).
Again, Schmaltz just showed up and performed.
“It was my first time playing tournament golf and I did pretty well,” he said. “I was just happy that I was able to make it through and enjoy this experience.”
Schmaltz hasn’t had the success at the State Amateur that he enjoyed in the City Championship last year. After two rounds of 81 and 75 he was at 14-over 156. His showing left him on the wrong side of the cutline.
After the first day on the Merrill Hills course, Schmaltz said he learned a hard lesson.
“Hit the ball straight,” he said.
He shot 75 on Tuesday, improving on his 81 from Monday, but he still struggled to keep up with Wisconsin’s best amateurs. Romo also struggled, finishing at 20-over 162 (85-77).
For the professional hockey player Schmaltz, though, it’s not all about winning.
“It’s fun,” he said. “It’s fun to compete during the summer in the offseason. Seeing how good these guys are, it’s pretty fun to watch. Golf’s a tough game so I think it’s good for your mental game and how you bounce back from bad shots.”