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Matt Hartley of Vancouver, Wash. had the low round of the day in the final round of the 29th Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, firing a 4-under par 68 to overtake several past champions to claim his first title. The 54-hole stroke play championship was held at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., and was conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

This was Hartley’s third attempt in the championship, and he had finished in the top-10 last year. “I don’t play in too many of these championships, just a lot of weekend club events,” said Hartley, 37, who carries his handicap out of Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield, Wash., just north of Vancouver a few miles up I-5. When asked when he realized he had a shot at winning, Hartley said, “Not until I was on the tee at 17, and one of the marshals told me I was tied for the lead.”

During the final round, Hartley overtook several past champions, including Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash., Tom Brandes, also of Bellevue, Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Dan Whitaker of Ellensburg, Wash. and Sandy Harper of Nanaimo, B.C. Watch Hartley’s interview here.

Hartley’s three round total of 5-under par 211 was one shot better than second place finishers Haack and Tyler Matthews, also of Bellevue.

Haack had started the final round with a two shot lead and was playing in the final group, right behind Hartley’s group. The big swing in the championship happened, although neither player knew it at the time, on the first few holes of the back nine. Hartley had reached the par-5 No. 10 in two, and 2-putted for birdie, then nearly drove the green on the short par-4 No. 11 which led to another birdie. Meanwhile, Haack had a lost ball on 10, leading to a bogey, and then also bogeyed No. 12, the par-3. Haack had made the turn with a five shot lead over Hartley, and suddenly it was down to one.

When Hartley birdied the par-4 No. 15 and Haack 3-putted from eight feet on No. 17, the tables turned and Hartley brought home the win.

For complete detailed final scoring, please visit www.thepnga.org.

The Home Course opened in 2007 and was immediately ranked the No. 2 Public Course in Washington by Golfweek magazine. In 2010 it served as the companion course to Chambers Bay for the U.S. Amateur Championship, and also hosted the 2010 Sahalee Players Championship, won by Peter Uihlein, who six weeks later would win the U.S. Amateur. The Home Course will be the site of the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links. The course is co-owned and operated by the PNGA and the Washington State Golf Association.

The PNGA was founded on February 4, 1899. It is a 501c3 charitable, international, amateur golf association dedicated to preserving the true spirit of golf by supporting its allied associations, conducting quality championships, and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest. The PNGA employs a full-time staff of 14, headed by a CEO/Executive Director, with offices located in Federal Way, Wash. Under the direction of the Board of Directors and in conjunction with a number of standing committees, the staff administers the day-to-day affairs of the Association. PNGA territory is broken down into five zones, which are: Zone 1 – Oregon; Zone 2 – Eastern Washington; Zone 3 – Western Washington and Alaska; Zone 4 – British Columbia and Alberta; and Zone 5 – Idaho and Montana. There are approximately 220,000 individuals at over 720 PNGA member golf clubs.

The original purpose of the PNGA was to conduct a regional amateur championship for men and women. For more than 110 years, the Association has been a pioneer in developing competitions and services and its mission has grown and evolved. Today, the PNGA remains committed to being a truly “regional” organization providing benefits and services to its members and member clubs throughout the Northwest.

The PNGA Men’s Amateur Championship is one of 16 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.

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