Welcome to the 33rd Pacific Northwest Men's Mid-Amateur Championship!
Round 2 Recap
Tres Kirkebo of Lakewood, Wash. followed up an opening round 3-under 69 with a 2-under 70 in today’s second round to take the top spot heading into tomorrow’s final round at the 33rd Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being held this week at Bend (Ore.) Golf and Country Club. The 54-hole stroke-play championship is being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).
Kirkebo, a member at Tacoma Country and Golf Club who earlier this year won the Kitsap Amateur, birdied three of his last four holes in today’s round to jump into the lead. He began today’s second round one shot behind first-round leader Greg Sanders of Anchorage, Alaska. Sanders, the executive director of the Alaska Golf Association, had opened with a 4-under 68, but couldn’t keep it going today, starting the day 3-over before birdieing his last two holes to finish with a 1-over 73. Sanders sits two shots back of Kirkebo.
Robbie Ziegler of Portland, Ore. put himself back into contention with a 3-under 69 today. He had opened with an even-par 72 in yesterday’s first round, but got it going early today, dropping three birdies in his first six holes to make the turn at 3-under for the day. Ziegler is a former standout at the University of Oregon men’s golf team. Earlier this summer he won the Royal Oaks Invitational, and three days ago lost out in a six-man playoff for the final spot in a U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier.
Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho followed up yesterday’s opening round of even-par 72 with a 2-under par 70 to move into fourth place, just three shots back of Kirkebo. Hatley was named the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the year in 2015 and 2016.
Only four players in the field – Kirkebo, Sanders, Ziegler and Hatley – are under par after completion of the first two rounds.
Defending champion Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash. sits five shots back after rounds of 71-73.
To be eligible to play in the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur, players must be 25 years of age or older by September 12, 2017 and require a USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or lower to be eligible.
Opened in 1925, Bend Golf and Country Club has developed a reputation for championship conditions, and is hosting the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur for the first time. Visit www.bendgolfclub.com for more information.
Round 1 Recap
Greg Sanders of Anchorage, Alaska fired a 4-under par 68 to take the first round lead at the 33rd Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being held this week at Bend (Ore.) Golf and Country Club. The 54-hole stroke-play championship is being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA). Sanders, the executive director of the Alaska Golf Association, put together five birdies against a lone bogey on the 6,983-yard layout, to take a one-stroke over Tres Kirkebo of Lakewood, Wash.
Being at the top of a leaderboard is familiar territory for Sanders, who earlier this summer was on the verge of making it to the final match of the PNGA Master-40 Amateur when he had to concede his semifinal match on the last hole because a prior family commitment would have prevented him from playing in the next day’s final match.
Defending champion Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash. sits three shots back after opening with a 1-under 71.
Other past champions within six shots of the lead on the crowded leaderboard are Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash. (2002), Jeff Ward of Bend (2014), and Tom Brandes of Bellevue (2006, 2012).
Championship Preview
The 33rd Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is being held Sept. 12-14 at Bend (Ore.) Golf and Country Club. The 54-hole stroke-play championship will be conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).
Players must be 25 years of age or older by September 12, 2017 and require a USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or lower to be eligible.
In last year’s Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held at Sandpines Golf Links in Florence, Ore., Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash. won his second title, having also won this championship in 2009. Haack is in the field again this year to try to defend his title.
Along with Haack, this year’s strong field includes Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho, who was named the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016; Jeff Ward of Bend, who won this championship in 2014; Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash., who earlier this year won the PNGA Master-40 title, and won this Mid-Amateur title in 2002; Tom Brandes of Bellevue, who twice won this title (2006, 2012) and in 2015 was inducted into the PNGA Hall of Fame; and the 2001 champion, Alex Stamey of Mill Creek, Wash.
Opened in 1925, Bend Golf and Country Club has developed a reputation for championship conditions, and will be hosting the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur for the first time. Visit www.bendgolfclub.com for more information.
The PNGA was founded on February 4, 1899. It is a 501c3 charitable, international, amateur golf association dedicated to preserving the true spirit of golf by supporting its allied associations, conducting quality championships, and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest. For more than a century, the Association has been a pioneer in developing competitions and services and its mission has grown and evolved. Today, the PNGA remains committed to being a truly regional organization providing benefits and services to its members and member clubs throughout the Northwest.
Congratulations to the 33rd Pacific Northwest Men's Mid-Amateur Champion!
Mike Haack, Bellevue, WA