Kraus Wins 3rd Red Jacket

A familiar face donned the Red Jacket at the conclusion of the 21st Red Putter Pro Tournament in Ephraim on Aug. 5. 

Matthew Kraus notched a score of 105 to become the first three-time winner of the tournament and to edge out his brother, Zachary Kraus, who scored 108. The brothers also finished first and second in 2022, and Matthew won the tournament in 2019. 

Kraus, a Whitefish Bay resident, recorded three consecutive rounds of 35, which not only earned him the Red Jacket, but also the $2,000 prize.

Alex Parys won a playoff on the seventh hole (“the Bear”) to earn third place with a score of 109 in the field of 66 competitors. 

Mark Schroeder-Strong tallied a 31 in the third round of play, taking home the trophy for Best Single Game and tying the course record, which Schroeder-Strong himself set during the 2009 tournament. 

To enter the tournament and join the Red Putter Pro Board, players had to qualify by scoring under par on the course. Red Putter co-owner Chris Opper said about half of the golfers had pro status and travel to tournaments, and about half were local players or visitors who recorded rounds of one-under-par or better for a round during late 2022 or August 2023 to qualify for the competition.

Top finishers from Door County included Matt Francesconi (sixth place), John Sawyer (seventh) and Andrew Francesconi (eighth).  Players can now qualify for next year’s tournament, set for Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.