Results
Recap & review by Derek Hartmann | September 12, 2026
The second annual Stingers Pro Tournament brought a 25-player field to Stingers Golf Recreation in West Bend, Wisconsin, for three rounds of stroke-play competition. The weather cooperated with temperatures around 80 degrees, partly sunny skies, and some wind, with a big group of spectators on hand!
For a $50 entry fee, the tournament provided three rounds of competition, free practice during the week leading up to the event, lunch, and a tournament goodie bag. AMA members were able to register without qualifying, while non-members were required to shoot a score of 51 or better in a qualifying round to earn a spot in the tournament.
The Course
If you haven’t been there before, Stingers is not an easy course! The layout features red, blue, and green turf, alternating on holes, with noticeable differences in speed and putting characteristics between the surfaces. The green turf plays considerably faster, while the red and blue turf tend to produce slower, more demanding putts.
The course also features substantial undulation, elevation changes, blind shots, and several holes where a small mistake can have a major impact on the score. Most holes will generally produce a 2 or 3, but there are relatively few true hole-in-one opportunities outside of Nos. 1, 3, 5, and potentially 18. At the same time, several holes can quickly turn into a 5 or 6 following a momentary loss of concentration. Stingers isn’t necessarily a course where players are constantly hunting aces. Instead, players will tell you that consistency, positioning, and avoiding big numbers are critical. On a course where players were already dealing with significant breaks and undulations, you find the ‘always exciting’ metal rimmed cups, for players to navigate!
Tournament play began at 9:00 a.m., with groups starting on staggered holes to help maintain the pace of play. After two rounds, players were regrouped according to their scores for the final round. The overall pace was solid, and the three-round format allowed the tournament to progress efficiently without feeling rushed.
The Competition
The second annual tournament attracted a 25-player field, including several experienced AMA competitors such as Justin Gutche, Matthew Kraus, Derek Hartmann, Tom Schweiss, and Cary Keller. Defending champion Tony Pietrangelo also returned to defend his title, but ultimately finished 14th with a total score of 152. At the top of the leaderboard, Justin Gutche separated himself from the field, shooting 43-45-43 for a three-round total of 131 (-28) to claim the championship. He held steady and played an almost perfect 3 rd round, leading him to victory. The battle for second place was considerably closer. Tom Schweiss and Matthew Kraus both finished regulation at 135 (-24), forcing a playoff on Hole 18 to determine second and third place. Schweiss played first and delivered under pressure, making a 2 on the difficult finishing hole. Kraus then had an opportunity to extend the playoff with a roughly three-foot putt for his own 2, but missed to the right, giving Schweiss the playoff victory and second-place finish, while Kraus finished third.
It was a fittingly close conclusion to an already competitive tournament, with only five strokes separating first place from fourth.
Notably, Matthew Kraus also recorded the low individual round of the tournament, shooting a 42 in Round 1. The scoring spread further illustrated the difficulty of the course.
The tournament paid $400 for first place, $250 for second, and $150 for third.
Overall Tournament Review
A major reason the Stingers event stands out is the involvement of owner and tournament organizer Theran Wanta. He puts considerable time, effort, and energy into creating a tournament experience that goes beyond simply organizing three rounds of competition. And for anyone who has competed in other mini golf tournaments elsewhere, that level of involvement is noticeable.
The Stingers Pro Tournament is a good example of how even a newer mini golf tournament can create a strong overall experience without requiring a massive field. And the 2027 Stingers Pro Open should be an even bigger field with more competition vying for the title… likely with new low scores being set! This tournament is most certainly building towards becoming a favorite stop on the AMA schedule for years to come.
Tournament Info
AMA Scoring Tier & Region: Red | Midwest
Rounds: 3 (If you qualify in advance or are a AMA member, see below)
Time: Check-in - 8:15 AM | Tee Off - 9 AM
Format: Individual Stroke Play
Course(s) Played: Only one course - Stingers Mini Golf
Divisions: Pro
Entry Fee: $50 - Players must either qualify in advance of the tournament (round of 52 or better, similar to how Red Putter does qualifying) or be a registered and confirmed AMA member, and you can register HERE.
Registration: Once you either qualify or confirm you’re an AMA member, you’ll be sent a registration link from the course.
Overall Purse:TBD ($600 in 2025)
Ball: Golf ball only
Exception from Standard AMA Rules: None noted
Additional Details
2nd year of this 3-round tournament on a massive Harris-designed course with red, green, and blue turf similar to Ball Fore (Illinois Open). This is a long and challenging course
Those who qualify and pay the entry fee will get free practice the week of the tournament.