DuPont, Wash. – The opening round of the 16th Annual Washington Champion of Champions took place today at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. Course conditions were highly favorable, with clear skies and low wind throughout the morning and afternoon. The course proved to be a steady challenge yet, with most of the leaders around par or better.
The championship features a full field of 156 club champions from across WA Golf territory in four divisions: Women, Men, Senior Women, and Senior Men.
Championship Links:
Garrett Stephens of Carnation fired a six-under-par score of 66 and is the outright leader of the Men’s division. Two bogeys weren’t enough to hamper Stephens’ eight total birdies, six of which he carded on his opening nine holes. Stephens earned his spot by winning the 2024 Puetz Golf Club Championship. He leads by one shot over Theodore Snyder entering tomorrow’s final round.
Angela Zhang of Bellevue, winner of this tournament in 2023, took the first round lead in the Women’s division with a two-under-par round of 70. Zhang started her day by going birdie-bogey on Nos. 10 and 11 but carded three more birdies throughout the day to finish with a one shot lead over playing partners Cienna Lee and Kennedy Knox. The three players will be paired together in tomorrow’s final round.
In the Senior Men’s division, Jeff Jones of Sequim and Jim Akers of Fall City each shot a one-under-par 71 to share the lead after today’s round. Jones qualified for the event by winning the 2024 Cedars at Dungeness Men’s Club Championship, while Akers earned his spot as the 2024 Senior Men’s Club Champion at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. They lead by one-shot over a host of challengers, Cris Bae, Beijing Men, and Sten Olsen.
Defending champion and three-time winner Leslie Folsom of Tukwila opened with an impressive one-over-par 73, taking a six-shot lead over Kim Shek and Sue Craven. Folsom recorded four birdies on the day, along with three bogeys and one double bogey. She, Shek, and Craven will be paired together in tomorrow’s final round.
The Champion of Champions is one of 14 championships conducted annually by WA Golf.
About Washington Golf
Founded in 1922, Washington Golf (formerly known as WSGA) has grown into one of the largest amateur golf associations in the United States providing a multitude of member benefits and services to more than 96,000 golfers, 520 member clubs, and 260 golf facilities throughout Washington and Northern Idaho. WA Golf also serves as a statewide representative of the United States Golf Association and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.