DuPont, Washington (Wednesday, April 25, 2012) – Sean Packer of Seattle, Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Katie Lee of Silverdale, and Yasue Alkins of Lacey came out victorious in their respective divisions at the 3rd Annual Washington State Champion of Champions held at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. on a day that did not lack for compelling storylines in rainy conditions.
The story of the day was Packer, whose impressive competitive course record 66 helped him overcome an 11 stroke deficit entering the final round and propelled him to victory in the Men’s Division.
“I have always wanted to be in this event, it is my first time here and it is a real honor.” Packer explained.
Packer birdied six of the first seven holes on the front nine, an impressive feat, and one that positioned him perfectly to overtake first round leader Craig Larson of Tacoma down the stretch. He added one more birdie on the par-5 16th hole on his way to a two-day, 1-over par 144 and a two stroke victory over Larson, who finished at 3-over par 147. Dana Christianson, also of Tacoma, finished three back at 4-over par 148.
In the Inaugural Senior Men’s division, four players entered the final round with a share of the lead, but Brandes came out on top after shooting a 2-under par 70 to win by three over Keith Crimp of Ellensburg. Consistency was the deciding factor for Brandes, who had three birdies to only one bogey in the final round despite the steady rain.
Brandes said “The turning point was hole 13 with a great drive, a 6 iron to the green, and a putt for birdie.”
His final round gave him a total of 2-under par 142 for the championship, the only competitor in the field who finished the two-day championship under par. Crimp finished alone in second at 1-over par 145, while Dave Farnam of Kent took third at 4-over par 148.
A pair of talented youngsters stole the show in the Women’s division as Lee and Simone Strauss of Kirkland, entered the final round tied at 4-over par. Strauss took a one stroke lead into the back nine after posting an even-par 36 on the front, but Lee caught fire on the back, posting an impressive 3-under par 33 to outlast Strauss to secure the championship.
“My favorite hole was hole 18 today when I knew that I was in the lead after I had finished my putt.” Katie Lee described.
Lisa Smego of Olympia finished in third place with a two-day total of 12-over par 156.
In the Inaugural Senior Women’s division, Yasue Alkins of Lacey endured the field and the elements in posting a final round 8-over par 80 to capture the wire to wire victory.
Alkins, who started playing golf in 1991 with her brother in Okinawa, Japan, said “Playing golf here in the states can be stressful because of the language barrier, but I enjoy the competition and sport very much.”
Alkins entered Wednesday’s play with a six stroke lead and maintained her lead despite the best efforts of a strong field, including defending champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria, who shot a 7-over par 79 in the final round. Murdoch finished alone in second with a two-day total of 14-over 158. Gretchen Klein of Hoquiam took third at 16-over par 160, a stroke ahead of Ginny Burkey of Fircrest and Denise Kieffer of University Place, who tied for fourth at 17-over par 161.
This year’s field consisted of 59 champions from around the state of Washington, competing in four divisions, including the newly added Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s divisions. The championship was 18 men, 24 senior men, 8 women, and 9 senior women. Playing 36 holes of gross stroke play with competitors being re-paired according to score for the second round.
To be eligible, a player must fall into one of the following categories.
– 2010 or 2011 Club Champion of a WSGA Member Club.
– Champion of a 2011 WSGA Championship (excluding team championships).
– Top-5 on the WSGA Women’s Performance List as of December 31, 2011.
– Top-10 on the WSGA Men’s Performance List as of December 31, 2011.
– Top 5 on the WSGA Senior Men’s or Senior Women’s Performance Points Lists as of December 31, 2011
– 2011 WJGA State Junior Boys’ or Girls’ Champion.
– 2011 Champion of any event on the WSGA Performance Points List.
The WSGA is a 501(c)4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteer, amateur golfers. The 25-person WSGA Board of Directors employs a full-time staff of 13 individuals. WSGA members pay an annual membership fee, through their golf club, to belong to the Association. The WSGA also serves as a state-wide representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.
The Championship season now moves to Skagit Golf and Country Club in Burlington, Wash. for the 2012 Washington State Women’s Best-Ball Championship on May 21-22 before crossing over to eastern Washington for the 2012 Washington State Men’s and Senior Men’s Best-Ball Championship at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. on May 24-25. For more information about the WSGA and any of its 15 state championships, log on to www.thewsga.org.
Results will be emailed daily. For the final results and a list of players and pairings, please visit www.thewsga.org.
The Home Course
Men’s Championship: 6,984 yards – Par 72
Senior Men’s Championship: 6, 560 yards – Par 72
Women’s Championship: 5,652 yards – Par 72
Senior Women’s Championship: 5, 652 yards – Par 72
Men’s Championship
Sean Packer, Seattle, Wash. – 79-66–145
Craig Larson, Tacoma, Wash. – 68-79–147
Dana Christianson, Tacoma, Wash. – 75-73–148
Sota Nozaka, Richland, Wash. – 72-76–148
Tyler Salsbury, Enumclaw, Wash. – 74-75–149
Bjorn Bjorke, Port Orchard, Wash. – 72-77–149
Gerald Boyd, University Place, Wash. – 82-73–155
Tom Hale, Lakewood, Wash. – 78-77–155
Michael Henslee, Lacey, Wash. – 78-77–155
Chris Bae, Issaquah, Wash. – 79-77–156
John Scacciotti, Spanaway, Wash. – 79-80–159
Mike Haack, Bellevue, Wash. – 76-83–159
Kevin Michelson, Walla Walla, Wash. – 82-79–161
Kevin Burnett, Bellevue, Wash. – 84-81–165
Paul Crisalli, Seattle, Wash. – 79-88–167
David McNeilly, Lakewood, Wash. – 89-83–172
Scott Waight, Kent, Wash. – 89-86–175
Jonathan Corning, Leavenworth, Wash. – 87-92—179
Senior Men’s Championship
Tom Brandes, Bellevue, Wash. – 72-70–142
Keith Crimp, Ellensburg, Wash. – 72-73–145
Dave Farnam, Kent, Wash. – 72-76–148
Chris Indall, Richland, Wash. – 72-78–150
Reggie Romines, Puyallup, Wash. – 75-76–151
Rodney Kingham, Longview, Wash. – 77-76–153
Richard Jonson, Seattle, Wash. – 75-78–153
Ron Petersen, Coquitlam, BC – 77-78–155
Doug Lilley, Seattle, Wash. – 79-77–156
John Von Lossow, Kirkland, Wash. – 77-80–157
Steve MacGeorge, Shoreline, Wash. – 77-80–157
Ed Klein, Hoquiam, Wash. – 80-79–159
Chris Pearson, Renton, Wash. – 79-80–159
Tom Utterstrom, Renton, Wash. – 81-79–160
Ric Nichols, Sammamish, Wash. – 81-79–160
Pete Ohlson, Twisp, Wash. – 81-83–164
Jay Tomlin, Sequim, Wash. – 86-80–166
Tom Siler, University Place, Wash. – 82-84–166
Travis Gamble, Gig Harbor, Wash. – 88-79–167
Tom Bonorden, Bothell, Wash. – 84-83–167
Gerald Brady, Port Ludlow, Wash. – 85-82–167
Bill Meyer, Bellevue, Wash. – 87-83–170
Bob Kieburtz, Port Orchard, Wash. – 80-92–172
Women’s Championship
Katie Lee, Silverdale, Wash. – 76-70–146
Simone Strauss, Kirkland, Wash. – 76-72–148
Lisa Smego, Olympia, Wash. – 80-76–156
Lisa Harper, Bainbridge Island, Wash. – 79-82–161
Sharon Drummey, Kirkland, Wash. – 82-84–166
Anne Stark, Woodinville, Wash. – 87-89–176
Kathy Chapman, Tumwater, Wash. – 99-87–186
Dodie Fitzsimmons, Kent, Wash. – 95-100–195
Senior Women’s Championship
Yasue Alkins, Lacey, Wash. – 73-80–153
Alison Murdoch, Victoria, BC – 79-79–158
Gretchen Klein, Hoquiam, Wash. – 80-80–160
Denise Kieffer, University Place, Wash. – 83-81–164
Ginny Burkey, Fircrest, Wash. – 78-86–164
Lucinda Thompson, Port Ludlow, Wash. – 88-86–174
Annette Seydel, Sumner, Wash. – 87-90–177
Lee Quinn, Gig Harbor, Wash. – 96-89–185
Dorothy Pollard, Arlington, Wash. – 106-96–202
Contact: Jonathan Brodin, WSGA Assistant Manager of Rules and Competitions
Phone: 253-214-2919 | E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 253-214-2919 | E-mail: [email protected]
LARSON AND ALKINS OFF TO HOT STARTS, FOUR TIED AT THE TOP IN THE SENIOR MEN’S DIVISION, STRAUSS AND LEE TIED ATOP THE WOMEN’S DIVISION AT 3rd ANNUAL WASHINGTON STATE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS
DuPont, Washington (Tuesday, April 24, 2012) – Craig Larson of Tacoma and Yasue Alkins of Lacey set the pace in the Men’s and Senior Women’s divisions, respectively, while four are tied atop the Senior Men’s division and two share the lead in the Women’s division after the first round of the 3rd Annual Washington State Champion of Champions at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
Larson used five birdies on the day to offset his lone bogey and fired a 4-under par 68, setting the pace in the Men’s Championship. He distanced himself from the field with a solid 3-under 33 on the back nine. Larson holds a four stroke lead over Sota Nozaka of Richland and 2009 Champion Bjorn Bjorke of Port Orchard, who both shot even-par 72 to sit in a tie for second.
The Senior Women’s division was paced by Yasue Alkins of Lacey, who posted a 1-over par 73 in building a five stroke lead. Alkins came on strong on the back nine, birdieing two of the first three holes on her way to a 1-under 35, giving her a cushion ahead of Ginny Burkey of Olympia, who is at 6-over par 78, while defending champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C., sits at 7-over par 79.
The newly added Senior Men’s division was a different story as four players will enter the final round with a share of the lead. Chris Indall of Richland, Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Dave Farnam of Kent, and Keith Crimp of Ellensburg each notched even-par rounds of 72 to share a three stroke lead over the rest of the field. Reggie Romines of Puyallup and Richard Jonson of Seattle are within striking distance after finishing in a tie for 5th at 3-over par 75.
In the Women’s Championship, Katie Lee of Silverdale and Simone Strauss of Kirkland took similar routes in the first round, each bogeying five holes on the front nine before steadying their games and finishing strong. Lee went -1 on the final three holes, including a birdie at the par-5 16th. Strauss held a one stroke advantage after 17, but bogeyed the par-4 18th to finish the first round in a tie for 1st with Lee at 4-over par. Lisa Harper of Bainbridge Island enters the final round alone in second, and trailing by three strokes, after carding a 7-over par 79. Lisa Smego of Olympia, Wash. sits in fourth after posting an 8-over par 80.
The final round will commence on Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30 a.m. with the Senior Women’s division teeing off first followed by the Women’s division then the Senior Men’s and finally the Men’s Division.
This year’s field consists of 59 champions from around the state of Washington, competing in four divisions, including the newly added Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s divisions. The championship is made up of 18 men, 24 senior men, 8 women, and 9 senior women. The championship will consist of 36 holes of gross stroke play with competitors being re-paired according to score for the final round.
To be eligible, a player must fall into one of the following categories.
– 2010 or 2011 Club Champion of a WSGA Member Club.
– Champion of a 2011 WSGA Championship (excluding team championships).
– Top-5 on the WSGA Women’s Performance List as of December 31, 2011.
– Top-10 on the WSGA Men’s Performance List as of December 31, 2011.
– Top 5 on the WSGA Senior Men’s or Senior Women’s Performance Points Lists as of December 31, 2011
– 2011 WJGA State Junior Boys’ or Girls’ Champion.
– 2011 Champion of any event on the WSGA Performance Points List.
The WSGA is a 501(c)4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteer, amateur golfers. The 25-person WSGA Board of Directors employs a full-time staff of 13 individuals. WSGA members pay an annual membership fee, through their golf club, to belong to the Association. The WSGA also serves as a state-wide representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.
The WSGA Champion of Champions is one of 15 state championships conducted annually by the WSGA. For more information about the WSGA and the Champion of Champions, you can visit www.thewsga.org.
Results will be emailed daily. For scoring results, a list of players and pairings, please visit: www.thewsga.org
The Home Course
Men’s Championship: 6,984 yards – Par 72
Senior Men’s Championship: 6, 560 yards – Par 72
Women’s Championship: 5,652 yards – Par 72
Senior Women’s Championship: 5, 652 yards – Par 72
Men’s Championship
Craig Larson, Tacoma, Wash. – 35-33–68
Bjorn Bjorke, Port Orchard, Wash. – 35-37–72
Sota Nozaka, Richland, Wash. – 37-35–72
Tyler Salsbury, Enumclaw, Wash. – 35-39–74
Dana Christianson, Tacoma, Wash. – 38-37–75
Mike Haack, Bellevue, Wash. – 39-37–76
Tom Hale, Lakewood, Wash. – 36-42–78
Michael Henslee, Lacey, Wash. – 38-40–78
John Scacciotti, Spanaway, Wash. – 39-40–79
Sean Packer, Seattle, Wash. – 39-40–79
Chris Bae, Issaquah, Wash. – 39-40–79
Paul Crisalli, Seattle, Wash. – 39-40–79
Kevin Michelson, Walla Walla, Wash. – 41-41–82
Gerald Boyd, University Place, Wash. – 45-37–82
Kevin Burnett, Bellevue, Wash. – 42-42–84
Jonathan Corning, Leavenworth, Wash. – 43-44–87
David McNeilly, Lakewood, Wash. – 46-43–89
Scott Waight, Kent, Wash. – 41-48–89
Senior Men’s Championship
Dave Farnam, Kent, Wash. – 36-36–72
Tom Brandes, Bellevue, Wash. – 37-35–72
Keith Crimp, Ellensburg, Wash. – 36-36–72
Chris Indall, Richland, Wash. – 34-38–72
Richard Jonson, Seattle, Wash. – 36-39–75
Reggie Romines, Puyallup, Wash. – 37-38–75
Rodney Kingham, Longview, Wash. – 39-38–77
John Von Lossow, Kirkland, Wash. – 37-40–77
Steve MacGeorge, Shoreline, Wash. – 39-38–77
Ron Petersen, Coquitlam, BC – 40-37–77
Chris Pearson, Renton, Wash. – 41-38–79
Doug Lilley, Seattle, Wash. – 40-39–79
Ed Klein, Hoquiam, Wash. – 40-40–80
Bob Kieburtz, Port Orchard, Wash. – 39-41–80
Ric Nichols, Sammamish, Wash. – 40-41–81
Pete Ohlson, Twisp, Wash. – 38-43–81
Tom Utterstrom, Renton, Wash. – 38-43–81
Tom Siler, University Place, Wash. – 38-44–82
Tom Bonorden, Bothell, Wash. – 43-41–84
Gerald Brady, Port Ludlow, Wash. – 39-46–85
Jay Tomlin, Sequim, Wash. – 44-42–86
Bill Meyer, Bellevue, Wash. – 44-43–87
Travis Gamble, Gig Harbor, Wash. – 46-42–88
Jim Maki, Hoquiam, Wash. – DQ-DQ–DQ
Women’s Championship
Katie Lee, Silverdale, Wash. – 40-36–76
Simone Strauss, Kirkland, Wash. – 39-37–76
Lisa Harper, Bainbridge Island, Wash. – 38-41–79
Lisa Smego, Olympia, Wash. – 42-38–80
Sharon Drummey, Kirkland, Wash. – 42-40–82
Anne Stark, Woodinville, Wash. – 43-44–87
Dodie Fitzsimmons, Kent, Wash. – 50-45–95
Kathy Chapman, Tumwater, Wash. – 57-42–99
Senior Women’s Championship
Yasue Alkins, Lacey, Wash. – 38-35–73
Ginny Burkey, Fircrest, Wash. – 40-38–78
Alison Murdoch, Victoria, BC – 42-37–79
Gretchen Klein, Hoquiam, Wash. – 40-40–80
Denise Kieffer, University Place, Wash. – 42-41–83
Annette Seydel, Sumner, Wash. – 44-43–87
Lucinda Thompson, Port Ludlow, Wash. – 46-42–88
Lee Quinn, Gig Harbor, Wash. – 49-47–96
Dorothy Pollard, Arlington, Wash. – 53-53–106