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Mason Milner, a 2003 Onalaska High School and 2008 UW-Eau Claire graduate, will be among the local players at this year's Wisconsin State Golf Association State Amateur. The event begins Monday and continues through Thursday at Old Hickory in Beaver Dam.

Milner has made the cut at the last two State Am's, but failed to crack the top 70 in either event. The top 70 and ties make the cut.

“I'd like to play well and contend, and see what happens,” Milner said of goals for the event. “It's going to be a tough challenge, but I'd like to build a little momentum for the County Amateur.

“My game is O.K. right now. I didn't putt well in the Lawn Care (Cup) last weekend, but I hit the ball O.K. I need to sharpen a few things.”

Milner graduated from Eau Claire this spring with a degree in business management. He is currently working in the pro shop at the Eau Claire Country Club, but will leave to work at a course in Scottsdale, Ariz. in October.

Unlike each of Onalaska's players since 2004, Milner didn't get a chance to play Old Hickory as a part of the high school Beaver Dam Invitational. Onalaska began playing in the tournament the following spring. Milner has not played Old Hickory, but thinks the course will fit his game.

“A short, tree-lined course fits my game O.K.,” Milner said. “I'm better with more of a country club style of course having been at Eau Claire for five years.

“It's not terribly long (6.700 yards), so you can hit some irons off the tees. I won't have to hit a ton of drivers, but we all like to hit driver as much as we can.”

Other area state qualifiers include Onalaska's Ren Jungck. Jungck, a 2006 Onalaska High School graduate who has three years of eligibility remaining at La Crosse's Viterbo Univeristy, qualified out of a district event at Yahara Hills in Madison in late June.

"My first goal of the first half of the tournament is to make the cut," Jungck said. "If I play well and play at my best, I think I'd have a shot to win it, but I'll have to play as well as I've ever played for four days straight. I don't think I'll have to play lights out, but I'm also going with the thought I could win it.

"I'm hitting the ball a lot longer than I was last year at this time. I've done a lot of weightlifting to get stronger, but I'm still controlling my ball well. My putting is coming along."

Jungck began his collegiate career at UW-Eau Claire, but did not lose a year of eligibility. Jungck also figures he's on pace to graduate from VU in five years.

Jungck is a player who will reap the benefit of OHS playing at Old Hickory, as he played there in each of his high school sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

"I'll probably be hitting a lot of hybrids and 3-woods off the tees," Jungck said. "I needed my driver more in high school, but all I may hit it next week is one three of the four par-4s."