Richland, Wash. – Gonzaga golfer Jace Minni of Delta, B.C. shot rounds of 73-73-68 to win the 101st Washington Men’s Amateur Championship by one shot over Max Herendeen of Bellevue.
The championship was held this week at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland, Wash. The three day championship was conducted by Washington Golf (WA Golf).
Championship links:
Minni and Herendeen were paired in the same group and entered the day in a tie for third, two shots back of leader Jordan Brajcich of Everett. Both players got off to a hot start, Herendeen going birdie-eagle and Minni going par-eagle in their first two holes respectively.
“The second hole was pretty special, 124-yards and it dropped for me, and my group member Max (Herendeen) followed it up right on top of me,” said Minni.
A bogey on the fifth hole put Minni two shots back of Herendeen, and he later made up for it with a birdie on the 11th to move back to within one.
The difference maker came on the 167-yard par-3 14th hole. Minni made birdie while Herendeen made bogey, this two-shot swing put Minni on top of the leader board and in the driver’s seat. The two players then matched birdies on 16 and went par-par to finish.
“I knew where I stood, I was looking at the leader board a little bit,” said Minni, “I knew that birdie (on 16) was very crucial because he (Herendeen) was going to make his tap-in.”
Minni and Herendeen were the only two players to finish under par after 54 holes on the 6,900 yard layout at Meadow Springs.
“It feels amazing (to win), it’s a really great tournament to win and it’s giving me a lot of confidence going into my summer,” said Minni, “I’m very proud of what I’ve just done.”
Click here to watch Minni’s full post-round interview.
Minni is a rising junior on the Gonzaga University men’s golf team. In 2018 he won the BC Juvenile Boys’ Championship and in 2020 he was selected for the Canadian National Junior Squad. Minni’s dad Scott is a noted PGA of BC golf instructor and his sister Amanda played college golf at Oregon State University.
Herendeen, is a rising high school senior. He has committed to play college golf at the University of Illinois. Earlier this year he won the WIAA 3A Boys State Golf Championship, and qualified for U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying. He also qualified for the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur.
Andrew Von Lossow of Spokane and 2019 champion Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho both finished in a tie for third place, two shots back.
2006 champion, and Meadow Springs member, Zach Bixler of Richland finished in a tie for fifth place.
The state’s premier men’s amateur championship, which is a counting event toward the World Amateur Golf Ranking, traditionally attracts the region’s finest players.
About Washington Men’s Amateur Championship
The Washington Men’s Amateur is the longest-running continuously-held golf championship in the state. Its illustrious history traces the arc and the growth of the state’s golf community. Past champions include Fred Couples, Joel Dahmen, Alex Prugh, Brock Mackenzie, Kermit Zarley, John Bodenhamer, and Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Famers Al Mengert, Bud Ward, Jack Westland and Harry Givan, among many others. A history of the championship can be found here.
About Meadow Springs Country Club
Designed by Robert Muir Graves, Meadow Springs Country Club has been the site of numerous tournaments and championships, including the Washington Open (1988-1990), the Northwest Open (2008, 2009), and the 1986 PNGA Men’s Amateur. The Nike Tour’s (precursor to today’s Korn Ferry Tour) Tri-Cities Open was held at Meadow Springs from 1991-2001. This is the fourth time the Washington Men’s Amateur has been held at Meadow Springs, having previously been contested there in 1980, 1985 and 1990.
About Washington Golf
Founded in 1922, WA Golf is celebrating its centennial in 2022. It is a 501c4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers. Serving more than 80,000 individual members at more than 550 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, WA Golf works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds and abilities.
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.
The championship consists of 54 holes of stroke play, with the full field of 120 players cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The three-day championship is being conducted by Washington Golf (WA Golf).
To stay connected on social media, follow WA Golf on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use the hashtag #WAGolfMensAm.