Kent Hagen of Covington, Wash. took medalist honors at the East qualifier while Seth Nickerson of Olympia, Wash., Keynan Fanslow of Tacoma and Adam Barker of Gig Harbor, Wash. were co-medalists in the West qualifier in leading their respective fields who now advance to play in the 89th Washington State Amateur Championship, which will be held August 4-6 at Suncadia Resort's Rope Rider course in Cle Elum, Wash.
The championship and the two qualifiers are conducted by the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA).
Hagen shot 6-under par 66, a round which included two eagles and three birdies, in winning the East qualifier, which was held today at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash. Hagen continues to play well, having earlier this summer tied for seventh in the Washington Open Invitational and also making it through the U.S. Open local qualifier. A total of 25 players advanced from this East qualifier.
At today's West qualifier, held on the Olympic course at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash., Nickerson, Fanslow and Barker each shot 1-over par 73 in earning co-medalist honors. A total of 58 players advanced from the West qualifier.
The size of the field in the championship proper will be 120 players, 37 of which have earned exemption into the championship based on criteria previously set forth. The remainder of the field is being filled with players who have qualified at the East and West qualifying sites.
For complete results of both qualifiers, as well as a list of exempt players, visit www.thewsga.org. Daily results will be emailed after each round of the championship proper, and tee times, pairings and live scoring will also be available on the WSGA website.
The state's premier men's amateur championship traditionally attracts the region's finest players. Last year, Tyler Salsbury of Enumclaw, Wash. held on for a one-stroke victory in the championship held at Wine Valley. Salsbury is now a rising senior on the University of Washington men's golf team. In 2013, 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 that summer's Pacific Northwest Men's Amateur and be named the 2013 WSGA Men's Player of the Year. Three years ago, Chris Williams won by 10 shots 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, becoming at one point the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, and would become the 2012 WSGA Men's Player of the Year.
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, among many others.
For more information about this championship, or any of the 14 WSGA championships held each year, visit www.thewsga.org.
