In the West qualifier, held at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. for the 88th Washington State Men’s Amateur Championship, Michael Almonte of Fircrest, Wash. and Michael Butler of Sammamish, Wash. earned co-medalist honors in leading 48 competitors who advance from this qualifier to the championship proper, which will be held August 5-7, 2014, at Wine Valley. The qualifier and the championship are conducted by the Washington State Golf Association.
Two qualifiers were held for those vying for a spot in the championship. In yesterday’s East qualifier, held at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash., Daniel Cruzen of Kennewick took medalist honors in leading 26 players who advanced to the championship proper.
The size of the field in the championship proper will be 120 players, 46 of which have earned exemption into the championship based on criteria previously set forth. The remainder of the field will be filled with players qualifying at the East and West qualifying sites.
The state’s premier amateur championship traditionally attracts the region’s finest players. Last year, Cameron Peck of Olympia, Wash. dominated the field in winning by five shots, with the championship being held at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. Peck would also win last summer’s Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur and be named the 2013 WSGA Men’s Player of the Year. Two years ago, Chris Williams won by 10 strokes on the Eagles Pride Golf Course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Williams, from Moscow, Idaho, starred on the University of Washington men’s golf team, ascending to be the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world.
Past champions of the Washington State Men’s Amateur include Fred Couples, Alex Prugh, Brock Mackenzie, Kermit Zarley, John Bodenhamer, and PNGA Hall of Famers Al Mengert, Bud Ward, Jack Westland and Harry Givan.