After today’s first round at the 9th Annual WSGA Champion of Champions, Rylee Iacolucci of Renton, Wash. led the pack in the Men’s division by shooting a 5-under 67; while Tom Brandes of Bellevue matched his 67 in taking the lead in the Senior Men’s division.
Starting his round on the 10th tee, Iacolucci finished that nine a pedestrian even-par, but then playing the front nine he blistered the course, pouring in five birdies for a 31.
Brandes had his round at 6-under par at one point, but had a lone bogey on his 13th hole of the day, a benign 152-yard par-3. Brandes is looking for his third consecutive title in this championship, and fourth overall.
Right behind Iacolucci is Jake Koppenberg of Bellingham, Wash. Paired with Iacolucci, Koppenberg nearly matched him shot-for-shot, surging to an early four-shot lead before Iacolucci caught him on their second nine. Koppenberg, who won this title in 2016, finished the day one shot behind Iacolucci, and tied for second with Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash., another past champion with multiple titles (2015, 2014, 2013, 2010).
Of the 48 players in the Men’s division, 19 players shot under par. Iacolucci played on the University of Idaho men’s golf team, graduating in 2015.
The WSGA Champion of Champions, conducted by the Washington State Golf Association, is held annually at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
The championship is played over 36 holes of stroke play, with the final round being held tomorrow, April 25. This year’s field consists of 136 champions from around the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, competing in four divisions – Men, Senior Men, Women and Senior Women. It is the strongest field to ever compete in the championship.
The winners of the past two Women’s titles – Jamie Huo of Auburn (2017) and Sarah Lawrence of Duvall (2016) – are tied at the top this year after today’s first round, both finishing at 1-under 71. Paired together today, neither could gain an edge over the other as both players had up and down rounds, matching several birdies and bogeys.
In the Senior Women’s division, Leslie Folsom of Tukwila, Wash. shot even-par 72 to take a 3-shot lead over Gretchen Klein of Hoquiam, Wash. Folsom won the Women’s title twice (2014, 2015). Klein is the defending champion in the Senior Women’s division.
For full scores, click here.
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