KOHLER – At first glance, the hat that Germantown senior Cody Schmidt wore during the WIAA state golf tournament looks like any other headwear that someone would wear out on the course.
But if you ask about the meaning of “The Stone” emblazoned across the hat, you would get a much deeper understanding of its importance.
Schmidt’s father, Troy, is the Germantown coach and also the owner of Blackstone Creek Golf Club. That’s where Schmidt learned the game and started on a path that would end up with him as the Division 1 state individual champion after a strong finish on Tuesday at the Meadows Valley Course at Blackwolf Run.
“It’s been incredible,” Schmidt said. “I’ve been playing with my two older brothers a lot. That’s really competitive out there.
“It’s definitely something that got me ready for the moment.”
Schmidt carded a 1-under par 71 in the second round after a 74 on Monday. He then had to wait about two hours until he could officially be declared state champion. Waunakee won the Division 1 team championship by one stroke over Eau Claire Memorial.
Schmidt, who will play golf at Carthage College in Kenosha next year, sealed his title with a strong finish, getting back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 before earning a par to finish off his high school career.
“It’s awesome,” Schimdt said. “Probably a dream finish for me. I mean, it’s been a great season all along and this has been a goal since freshman year, first tryout day. It’s cool to see.”
Schimdt, who was an individual qualifer for the state tournament, has been gathering momentum for this finish all season.
“The cool thing is our conference – Greater Metro – is super strong,” Schmidt said. “So being able to compete out there, I think going into the conference championship I was actually leading the player of the year, so I knew if could contend there, I could contend with anyone in the state.
“Obviously, I played some invites, had some good success, top fives. I knew today if I hit it well, I could compete with anyone.”
This season, the Germantown team started wearing “The Stone” hats with the Warhawks logo on the side.
“A bunch of the players that play league out by us, they nicknamed the course ‘The Stone,’ Troy Schmidt said. “You know, ‘Let’s go play at The Stone.’
“We kind of ran with it and put the hats out there. Players love it.”
Troy Schmidt never pushed his son into golf, even with a course at Cody’s disposal to pratice on.
“I wanted him to play a lot of sports,” Troy said. “All the kids, I have three boys, and I didn’t want me, my influence of golf, to be their influence.
“I let them do what they wanted to do. I didn’t push them into golf. I remember the thing that (former pro) Johnny Miller always said, that when he took his kids to the golf course, he always took them away wanting more.
“So it was key for me. When I brought them out to the golf course, we’d ride around in the cart, but after a couple holes I’d let them fish a little bit. Then I’d take them home and they’d be like, no, I want to play more. And they just fell in their own way and had their own love of the game.”
Schmidt had his father following every step of the way on the course. Troy competed in golf at Germantown, too, though he never got to the state tournament.
“This kid’s a way better player than I ever was,” Troy said. “Hard work. This kid did all the hard work.
“He was out there every time the snow melted, 35 degrees, he was working on his game. Nobody worked harder than him.
“I look back to a moment when he was a sophomore and we had a chance to maybe as a team to go to sectionals. He had a tough moment on a hole, to go out on a par 3. I think it changed his career. Because he worked harder. He kind of remembers that in the back of his mind, the bitter taste. I think this is all because of that day.”
And, of course, there will be a big celebration at “The Stone.”
“My phone’s blowing up already,” Troy said. “A lot of support for him from the course, the members and the league guys. They’ll be excited.”
Divisions 2 and 3
There was some intra-team drama in the Division 2 field when Edgerton teammates Caleb Kern and Cameron Lee finished tied atop the leader board.
Kern then edged Lee on the second hole of the playoff. Edgerton also finished five strokes behind winner Lakeland in the team competition.
Durand-Arkansaw’s Logan Weissinger won the Division 3 individual title by one stroke over Cambridge’s Kian Bystol Flores and Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah’s Carson Mersberger. Mineral Point cruised to the team championship by 20 strokes.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Germantown’s Cody Schmidt wins WIAA Division 1 boys state golf title
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