Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash. shot a 4-under par 68 in the final round to claim his third consecutive Washington State Senior Men's Amateur title, and Jeff Remington of Edmonds, Wash. won the 6th Washington State Super Senior Men's Amateur. Both championships were held concurrently at Everett (Wash.) Golf and Country Club, and were conducted by the Washington State Golf Association.
Brandes had started the final round with a slim one stroke lead over first round leader Russ Patterson of Bothell, Wash., with several other players within a few strokes of the lead. But Brandes started his round hot, making the turn at 4-under par and cruised to an 8-stroke victory over second place finisher Bob Burton of Everett. Brandes had the best round of the day. Over the three rounds, Brandes had 14 birdies and one eagle.
Others have won more Senior Amateur titles (Dr. John Harbottle has won this title a record five times), but Brandes is the first player to win this championship three years in a row.
"I've played this course many times, so am very familiar with how to play it," said Brandes. "I played very aggressively all three rounds." The fairways at Everett are narrow and lined with tall old-growth evergreens, but Brandes pulled out his driver numerous times while others played conservatively. Watch Brandes' interview here.
Last year, Brandes ran the tables in the region's championships, winning, along with the Senior Amateur, the Washington State Men's Mid-Amateur, the PNGA Men's Mid-Amateur, the PNGA Men's Senior Amateur, and the Washington State Senior Men's Champion of Champions. He is the three-time defending WSGA Men's Senior Player of the Year, and the defending Mid-Amateur Player of the Year. Brandes has already won this year's PNGA Men's Senior Amateur, and last month finished second in the British Senior Amateur held at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland.
Under cloudy skies and cold temperatures, Remington held on long enough to claim the Super Senior Amateur title. His final round of 7-over 79 was good enough to stay four strokes clear of second place finisher, Tom Driscoll of Redmond, Wash. Remington had won the Washington State Senior Men's Amateur Championship in 2003.
With five holes left in the final round, Remington was tied with Shelton Washburn of Chimacum, Wash. "Shelton caught me on the ninth hole with a birdie," said Remington. "Then we both parred the next four holes. I birdied 14, and played steady from then on. The course is in great shape, and was really a treat to play." Watch Remington's interview here.
The Washington State Senior Men's and Super Senior Men's Amateur Championships are two of 14 state championships conducted annually by the WSGA.
