STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — It’s safe to say Wednesday was a good day for Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza.
That’s when the United States Golf Association announced it would be bringing one of its major tournaments, the US Senior Open, to SentryWorld in Stevens Point from June 29th-July 2nd, 2023. A move that will bring millions in tourism dollars to the region.
But, in true Mike Wiza fashion, he opened an interview about the topic with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.
“Are you talking about the new Dunkin’ Donuts that’s coming to Point… or the other thing?” said Wiza when he was asked to make the big announcement.
After getting back on-topic he admitted he was “bursting at the seams” waiting for the press release to come out after SentryWorld officials learned two weeks ago that the tournament would be theirs. Wiza says this is truly going to be a sporting event like the region hasn’t seen before.
“This is a big deal. We are going to have the opportunity to work with our surrounding neighbors from Wausau probably out to the Fox Valley [along with] Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield. That economic impact is literally going to be [for] Central Wisconsin.”
Wiza says the population of Portage County is around 72,000 people. Organizers expect the event will bring 75,000 people into the region for a week, not including tournament participants and officials. He wouldn’t rule out some people having to book rooms as far away as Portage or Madison for the tournament.
“There’s going to be a lot of rooms that are needed. Clearly, we don’t have that many rooms in Stevens Point. But, we do in Central Wisconsin,” he added.
The city has hosted USGA events in the past including the Girl’s Junior Championship two years ago. That tournament went on despite damaging storms that blew through the region two days prior. Wiza credits the community response with creating a lasting impression that helped lay the groundwork for Wednesday’s announcement.
“People were driving in with their chainsaws to help clean up. By the time the tournament started, you would have never known there was a storm. Everything got taken care of. That dedication, that passion, and that volunteerism is really what helped us and SentryWorld land a tournament of this magnitude,” said Wiza
The event will be broadcast by NBC Sports including coverage on the Golf Channel and NBC broadcast network, putting the city and region on display for golf fans in over 100 countries. Wiza expects a total of 200 credentialed media will cover the event.
He adds that it wasn’t until two weeks ago that the event became reality for organizers. “We expected maybe a mid-level tournament before jumping into the big league with the Senior Open. But, we are 100% ready and I know that Sentry, from the moment they heard just a few weeks ago and right on through the tournament, that’s going to be 100% their focus. They are going to make sure that this is the best tournament they can possibly put on.
Wednesday’s announcement by the USGA also awarded the 2022 US Senior Open to Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, PA. The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs will host the event in 2025. The 2024 event has not been awarded.
Wiza said he didn’t know off the top of his head if SentryWorld and the city were competing against other courses and communities for hosting rights. Stevens Point has hosted two prior USGA events including the 1986 US Women’s Amateur Public Links Final and the ’19 Junior Girls’ Championship.
Wisconsin has hosted one other US Senior Open at Whistling Straights in Kohler back in 2007.
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