Reid Hatley hangs tough to win Washington Men's Mid-Amateur Shelton, Wash. – Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho, shot 4-under par 68 in today’s final round to win the 17th Washington Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held this week at Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, Wash. The 54-hole stroke-play championship was conducted by Washington Golf (WA Golf).
Championship Links:
Hatley shot rounds of 70-73-68 to finish two shots ahead of Spencer Ellis (Wenatchee). The two competitors were the only players in the field to finish the three-day championship under par. Hatley’s final round of 68 was all the more impressive because of the blustery conditions.
This the now the third title for Hatley in this championship, having previously won in 2016 and 2018. Ellis is also a past champion, having won the title in 2023. Hatley has been named the WA Golf Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year six times.
Hatley is now two-for-two this year in winning championships he has entered this year. “This is only the second event I have played in this year,” he said. “I have a three-month old child and also a not-quite-two-year-old, so I haven’t had a lot of extra time to play much golf.” Earlier this year he won the Washington Men’s Four-Ball Championship, partnering with Andrew Von Lossow of Spokane.
Hatley said he didn’t have many expectations coming into this championship. “My game plan was to play very conservatively,” he said. “This is the kind of golf course where you can’t be aggressive off the tee and get away with it over three rounds. I played a low cut off the tee all week, and just relied on my short and mid irons to put me close to the hole. You can make big numbers here very quickly; it can really bite you. Honestly, I just tried to keep myself within shouting distance of the lead.”
Hatley had started today’s final round two shots behind leader Elias Tunison (Scottsdale, Ariz.). But by the 12th hole, it had become a two-horse race between he and Ellis, with the other contenders falling back.
After Ellis double-bogeyed the par-4 15th, Hatley had a 1-shot lead. Hatley then birdied the par-4 16th to build a 2-shot lead. “It wasn’t until that birdie on 16 that I thought I might actually have a chance to win this thing,” he said.
The 509-yard par-5 18th was playing downwind, and Hatley and Ellis, paired together in the second-to-last group, were side-by-side in the fairway after their tee shots, with 183 yards to carry the pond and 205 yards to the hole. “I didn’t want to hit a half-shot, so I swung hard with a 7-iron and ended up in a good spot, 18 feet below the hole, putting for eagle,” said Hatley, who hit first and put the pressure on Ellis. “It was a good place to be, with a 2-shot lead.”
Hatley’s 2-putt birdie sealed the championship.
To be eligible for the Washington Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, contestants must be 25 years of age or older by July 21, 2026. Competitors must have an active GHIN number and USGA Handicap Index issued by a WA Golf member club not exceeding 9.9 at the time of entry.
The Washington Men’s Mid-Amateur is one of 14 championships held annually by WA Golf.
