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Elsen sacks Romo en route to state golf title

BY JEREMY REEVES

jreeves@kenoshanews.com

Kenosha’s Jordan Elsen couldn’t have picked a more dramatic way to begin his 52-hole run Thursday to winning the Wisconsin State Golf Association Match Play championship at Whispering Springs Golf Club in Fond du Lac.

Elsen, 21, a former Tremper student and senior captain of the University of Wisconsin men’s golf team, rolled in a 15-footer for birdie on the 18th hole to defeat Burlington native and Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Tony Romo 1-up in a morning quarterfinal match.

“It felt great. To beat Tony Romo on the last hole and to close out the match knowing that everything went to plan on that last hole and I played the hole perfectly,” said Elsen, who went on to beat defending champion Kevin Cahill in the semifinals and Marquette senior-to-be Ben Sieg for his first major victory in Wisconsin.

Elsen needed a late rally to hold off the charging Romo, who was 3-down after 10 but took a 1-up lead when Elsen three-putted 16 for bogey.

However, Romo hit an 8-iron over the green on the par-4 17th and didn’t get up and down for par, allowing Elsen to square the match.

“I was thinking after the round this is why this guy is in the NFL, this is why he’s the (starting) quarterback of the Cowboys,” Elsen said. “He was down three (after 10 holes) and now he’s 1-up going into 17.

“The guy is a competitor and that’s why he’s out there and that’s why he’s a champion. He wants to win and he elevates the game to the next level when he has to.”

Romo, 30, said he didn’t play his best but was impressed by Elsen’s game.

“Give him credit. He made birdie, and he played (well) down the stretch,” Romo said. “He’s a good player. I think it was a good match.”

Romo, a near-scratch handicap, said playing golf tournaments is a fun way to spend his football off-seasons.

“I just like competing,” he said. “For me, it’s enjoyable win or lose. For me that’s a fun thing and any time I can do that it’s enjoyable no matter (what the result) is.”

Elsen said he liked the experience of getting to meet a professional athlete/celebrity like Romo.

“It was interesting. He’s a very personable guy. He’s very down-to-earth and easy to talk to and we joked around a little bit,” Elsen said. “But there wasn’t a whole lot of conversation when he was down.”

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