Spokane Results

Twenty two players competed at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying held at Spokane Country Club in Spokane, Wash. on Friday, with two advancing to the 31st U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship to be played at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas on September 17-22.

Tim Rypien of Spokane, Wash. claimed medalist honors after carding a round of 5-under par 67 on his home course. The 47-year old school teacher and former minor league baseball player teamed up with his brother Mark, who is a former NFL Super Bowl MVP, as his caddie. Rypien carded six birdies on the day against just two bogeys.

Shawn Tucker of Whitefish, Mont. claimed the final spot after a round of 2-under par 70. Tucker opened with an even par 36 on the front nine and closed with a 2-under par 34 on the back. His round included five birdies against three bogeys.

David Nuhn will be first alternate after his round of 1-under par 71, and Jason Goldsworthy of Calgary, Alberta will be second alternate after a 1-over par 73.
The Washington State Golf Association is the local representative of the USGA and conducts the local sectional qualifying every year. This was one of 67 18-hole qualifiers for the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship that will be played from September 17-22 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas.

Entries for the 2011 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship had to be received by the United States Golf Association by August 3. The cost was $125 to enter. The championship is for mid-amateurs who are 25 years of age or older with a Handicap Index not exceeding 3.4. This year the USGA received 3,743 entries who will compete across the 67 qualifying sites for 236 spots into the field. The remaining 28 spots in the 264 player field are exemptions.

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Cle Elum Results
Thirty-three players competed today for two spots in the Sectional qualifier for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The qualifier was held at the newly-opened Rope Rider course at the Suncadia resort in Cle Elum, Wash., and in very windy conditions Kevin PomArleau of E. Wenatchee, Wash. and Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash. came out on top of the field. The championship proper will be held September 17-22 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Tex.

PomArleau, who recently won the PNGA Master-40 Championship, stayed hot today claiming medalist honors after a round of even par 72. This will be PomArleau’s second appearance in the U.S. Mid-Amateur in as many years, having lost last year to the eventual champion Nathan Smith in the Round of 16. His round of even par today started with birdies at holes 2 and 3 but then was followed by bogeys at holes 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 before finishing strongly with birdies on 14, 15 and 18.

McNelis will be attending his second USGA Championship this year after recently qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open, which was held last month in Toledo, Ohio. Today’s round was very steady and included 17 pars and a lone bogey on the par-4 9th hole for a 1-over par 73.

Michael Haack of Bellevue, Wash. and Charles Pattan of DuPont, Wash. will be first and second alternates after rounds of 2-over par 74.

The Washington State Golf Association is the local representative of the USGA and conducts the local sectional qualifying every year. This was one of 67 18-hole qualifiers for the U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship that will be played from September 17-22 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas.