Port’s Krentz relishes the ride at 100th annual state golf tournament

Port Washington High School senior Eric Krentz didn’t have the Division 1 state golf tournament he would have liked last week, but the fact that he got an opportunity to play was a highlight itself.

Krentz shot the best round of his life, 77, in the sectional final that sent him to University Ridge in Madison for state.

There, he shot 94 on June 8 and 91 on June 9, finishing 101st of 102 golfers.

“The pressure of all these people watching and everyone being quiet, I think got to him a little,” coach Rory Palubiski said.

But Krentz enjoyed his time.

“The beauty of Eric is he always has a positive mindset and always looks forward to the next shot and the next hole, and he doesn’t get down on himself. I think with anything in life, you can’t ask for more than that,” Palubiski said.

“I never once had to lift him from the doldrums. It was just a pleasure hanging out with him.”

The tournament was special for Palubiski as well. It was the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s 100th state golf championships. Signs on each tee box provided tidbits of historical information.

Palubiski and his assistant coach, Stu Brown, finished second at state with Grafton’s team against much bigger schools in 1988.

That was the first year runners-up were honored, and one of the signs on the course paid homage to that.

Without Krentz’s hot round in the sectional final at Rolling Meadows on June 3 in Fond du Lac, Palubiski wouldn’t have had the chance to partake in the milestone state tourney.

“Because of Eric, I was able to be part of that,” he said, and the coach texted his senior telling him he was grateful for the opportunity.