Walla Walla, Wash. (Friday, May 27, 2011) – Nick Ellis of East Wenatchee and Rob Matson of Wenatchee pulled away from the field to win the 55th Annual Washington State Men’s Best-Ball Championship at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. Kirk Galbraith and Chris Indall, both of Richland went wire-to-wire to capture the 14th Annual Senior Men’s Best-Ball Championship. The gusty winds on the Dan Hixson links-style course made for a demanding final round for all 92 teams in the field.
Ellis and Matson went into the final round paired with their fellow co-leaders, Bob Conrad and Greg Richards, both of Bellevue, at 3-under par. Ellis and Matson would quickly gain the lead with a birdie on hole #1 and never look back, posting a 3-under par 69 to bring their two-day winning total to 6-under par 138.
This is Matson’s second WSGA Men’s Best-Ball title going along with his victory in 2003 at Inglewood Country Club. Ellis is a member of the Washington State University Golf team and a recent qualifier at the US Open Local earlier this month.
In a four-way tie for second place at 3-under par 141 were; Brad Treadwell of Seattle and Andrew Larson of Mukilteo, Tom Herrick of Olympia and Michael Kloenne of West Linn, Ore., David Nuhn of Moscow, Idaho and Aaron Curtis of Richland, and Tom Brandes of Bellevue and Alex Stamey of Mill Creek.
In the Senior Division, Galbraith and Indall made four birdies, two on the front and two on the back with only two bogeys, for a final round of 2-under par 70, giving them a two-day winning total of 5-under par 139.
In a six-way tie for second place at 2-under par 142 were; Greg Tatham of Lewiston, Idaho and Mike Welling of Asotin, Bruce Richards of Seattle and Dr. Jack Lamey of Bellevue, Paul Reni and Steve MacGeorge both of Shoreliine, Keith Best of Pasco and Mike Smart of Kennewick, Jim Sparkman of Moses Lake and Nick Tommer of Ephrata, and Dick Cartmell and Jim Bixler both of Richland. The seniors played the course at 6,367 yards par 72.
Wine Valley Golf Club was designed by Hixson, and was opened for play in 2009. PGA Director of Golf John Thorsnes described the course as a “wide open links-style golf course.” The players faced firm and fast conditions as well as large undulating greens. On conditions players could face Hixson said, “you can’t just come out here and play it the same way over and over. You’ve got to think and adapt.”
Men’s Best-Ball – Final Results | Payout
Senior Men’s Best-Ball – Final Results | Payout