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Publisher's
Essay
A hot NW summer ahead
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John Bodenhamer
Publisher |
If you like watching major national and international amateur golf
competition at the highest level, the Northwest is the place to be
this summer.
The United States Golf Association will be conducting two of its national
championships and an international team competition in our region.
There will be an opportunity to watch future stars of the PGA Tour
and LPGA Tour up close as they compete in either the U.S. Amateur
Public Links Championship at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton,
Wash., July 10-15; the Curtis Cup Matches at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
in Bandon, Ore., July 29-30; or the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship
at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., Aug. 7-13.
It will be the sixth USGA national championship held at Pumpkin Ridge,
and if the past is any indication, it will be memorable. Tiger Woods
made history in 1996 in winning an unprecedented third consecutive
U.S. Amateur and Alison Nicholas beat Nancy Lopez by a single stroke
to win the U.S. Women's Open in 1997.
It will be Bandon Dunes' first USGA competition, but will by no means
be the last. The much-acclaimed resort, with its three fabulous seaside
courses, also is slated to hold the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
The USGA also will test the waters for the first time at Gold Mountain
as the highly touted Olympic Course, designed by local architect John
Harbottle III, will challenge the skills of the top public course
players. There are some interesting sidebars with the Amateur Public
Links being conducted this year in Washington.
In 1959, Bill Wright of Seattle's Jefferson Park Golf Course became
the first African-American to win a USGA championship. Just two years
ago in 2004, Washingtonian Ryan Moore captured his second U.S. Amateur
Public Links during his "dream summer," which also included victories
in the NCAA, U.S. Amateur, Western Amateur, and Sahalee Players championships.
Many also will recall that defending champion Clay Ogden of West Point,
Utah, defeated teenage sensation Michelle Wie in the quarterfinals
on his way to capturing the crown last year. The 21-year-old Ogden,
a junior on the nationally ranked Brigham Young University golf team,
will be on hand to defend his title, while Wie has since turned pro.
It has been a team effort in every way as the City of Bremerton and
Gold Mountain prepare to host this championship. General chairperson
Frank Horton, vice-chairperson Shari Jacobson, Director of Golf Scott
Alexander, superintendent Ed Faulk and Bremerton mayor Cary Bozeman
have as their goal to conduct the finest Amateur Public Links Championship
ever. Thanks to a fantastic group of volunteers and sponsors, they
are well on their way to doing just that.
Spectators for each of these competitions are encouraged and admission
is free. Also, volunteer opportunities are available. Contact each
respective golf facility for details. |
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