Braydon Wheeler is a firm believer that practice makes perfect. Once again, he put that into play at the 2026 Willow Park Club Championship. Wheeler outlasted the rest of the field in windy conditions last weekend and won his seventh straight title. He grew up playing at Willow Park and says getting his name on the trophy never gets old. “It was an amazing weekend,” he said. “Having my family out there and my kids. I have 10 and six-year-olds and having them come out to see me is very special. Obviously getting my name on the trophy and trying to catch Ken, but I’m going to have to do that.” Despite a string of victories that has lasted close to a decade, catching Ken will be no small deal. 20 titles The Ken that Wheeler is referring to is Ken Wasslen. In all, Wheeler has nine club titles to his name but surprisingly, still has an awful long way to go to catch Wasslen who is known as the King of Willow Park. The 88-year-old is still making putts at Willow Park as I witnessed on the 18th green this week. Wasslen won the his first championship at Willow Park in 1965. He won his last one when he was 69 years old around 2007. Including the summer of ‘69 and ‘07, Wasslen has his name on the trophy 20 times. “I know I won the very first one,” said Wasslen. “I don’t know, there’s a lot of good memories.” Chasing 20 Wheeler grew up idolizing Wasslen. He was one of his mentors at the club. He knows it’s a big mountain to climb but he says he’s going to give it all he’s got to get to 21 titles. “I do think I can if I can keep this run going and I can play into my later years like Ken had the privilege of doing, then I think there’s a chance,” he said. “But I’ve got to win as many as I can while I’m younger because not many guys at the age of 69 are going to have the game that Ken had.” Wasslen has no doubts that Wheeler can surpass his number. “Oh sure he can,” said Wheeler. “He’s on a roll. I know I was 68 or 69 and to win at that age is hard to believe.”
