Mike Haack goes low to defend his title at PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur

Mike Haack of Bellevue, Wash. shot a final round of 4-under 68 to vault to the top of the leaderboard and win his second consecutive Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Haack had started the day five shots back of the leader, but used a torrid stretch of 5-under over six holes on today’s back nine, including holing out from a bunker for eagle on the par-4 10th, to put himself back into contention.

This is the third title in this championship for Haack, having also won it in 2009.

The 54-hole stroke-play championship was held at Bend (Ore.) Golf and Country Club and was conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

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“I got through the front at even par and then holed out on ten out of a bunker for eagle and that kind of got me going to shoot 4-under on the back nine,” said Haack after tying the low round of the week with a 4-under 68.

With a third Mid-Amateur title under his belt, Haack has high expectations for next year. “I’ll be back so I’ll do my best to make it three in a row.”

Haack held off Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho, the 2015 and 2016 PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year, who finished alone in second, two shots back.

Finishing tied for third was Greg Sanders, the first-round leader, three shots back of Haack. Sanders is the executive director of the Alaska Golf Association, and was bidding to become the first Alaskan to win a PNGA title.

Tying Sanders for third place was Robbie Ziegler, the former University of Oregon standout who earlier this summer won the Royal Oaks Invitational and earlier this week lost in a playoff for the final spot in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship qualifier.

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. 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.