Pendleton, Ore. – Jesse Hibler of Meridian, Idaho won the 46th PNGA Men’s Master-40 Amateur Championship, beating Craig Larson of Lakewood, Wash. in today’s final match. The championship was held this week at Wildhorse Golf Course in Pendleton, Ore.
Championship Links:
Hibler, the No. 14 seed in the match-play bracket, was down one to Larson, the No. 1 seed, after 10 holes, but Hibler got hot, birdieing and winning the next four holes to take a 3-up lead after 14 before sealing the match on the 16th.
“It was a long week, I haven’t been playing a whole lot,” said Hibler, “I just got comfortable and wanted to play some golf, so that’s what I did.”
Hibler made a total of eight birdies in just 16 holes during today’s championship match, which was just too much for Larson to overcome. “I had a good feeling going on and just tried to hit certain shots to close him out, and it just panned out that way.”
This is the first PNGA title for Hibler who has played in multiple PNGA Lamey Cup competitions as a member of the Idaho Golf Association (IGA) team. He won the 2019 IGA Men’s Tournament of Champions and finished tied for 6th at this year’s Idaho State Amateur. In 2018, he finished tied for 2nd at PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
Watch Hibler’s post-match interview.
Larson is a longtime competitor in PNGA championships and previously earned medalist honors at this championship in 2016. He was seeking his first individual PNGA title.
⛳️🏆 The 18-hole final match at the PNGA Men’s Master-40 Amateur Championship is underway!
Jesse Hibler of Meridian, Idaho 🆚 Craig Larson of Lakewood, Wash.
📲 Follow along: https://t.co/BSfFmpYlU3 pic.twitter.com/JxdFXFVdNE
— Pacific NW Golf Association (PNGA) (@thePNGA) August 13, 2021
This year’s championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on August 9-10 to determine match play seeding. The top 32 players qualified for single-elimination match play and all matches were contested over 18 holes and played at scratch, with the final match being held Friday, August 13.
The championship, which was conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA), consisted of the top amateur male golfers in the Pacific Northwest over the age of 40.
The Pacific Northwest Men’s Master-40 Amateur had previously been held at Wildhorse Golf Course in 2006 and 2012. The championship is one of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
About Wildhorse Golf Course
Wildhorse Golf Course is an amenity of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, which is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The golf course was designed by John Steidel, and opened in 1997. Centrally located between Boise, Spokane and Portland, Wildhorse Resort & Casino is a premier destination for family getaways, business meetings and large conventions. Visit wildhorseresort.com for more information.
About the Pacific Northwest 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 member associations, conducting quality championships, and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest. For more than a century, 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.