Adam Hagen hired as new Manager of Rules and Competition
After a brief period of being away from the game, Adam Hagen has returned to the world he loves by being hired as the new Manager of Rules and Competition for the PNGA and WSGA.
Hagen grew up in the small town of Scappoose, Ore. where his father introduced he and his brother to the game at a very young age. After high school, Adam played on the men’s golf team at the University of Hawaii, Hilo for one year and then transferred to the University of Nevada, where he played on the golf team for three years before graduating in 2006. He returned to the Northwest in 2007 to compete as an amateur and was fortunate to see success by winning multiple Oregon state titles (including the 2007 Oregon Amateur), competing in USGA qualifiers and championships and ultimately being named the 2007 OGA Golfer of the Year.
Hagen turned professional in 2008 and for the next three years traveled around the country competing on various mini-tours. He returned to the Northwest and regained his amateur status in the fall of 2015.
“I’ve been a competitor for most of my life,” Hagen says, “and I’m very much looking forward to applying the knowledge I’ve gained as a player to administering championships throughout the Pacific Northwest.”
Hagen’s “Dream Foursome?” That would be his Dad, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
The following is taken from the annals of the Oregon Golf Association, when Hagen was named the 2007 OGA Golfer of the Year:
For the second time in a 3-year span, Adam Hagen of Scappoose, Ore. had another stand-out year in the OGA Men’s Championship Season. In 2005, Hagen took titles in both the Oregon Public Links and Oregon Men’s Stroke Play Championships. This year began with Hagen having to qualify for the Oregon Amateur, and it seemed unlikely he would be able to go the distance. First, he had not earned enough points to be exempt and would have to qualify. In 2006, he was finishing up his degree at the University of Nevada and therefore was not able to compete in OGA events. He chose the qualifier held at Quail Valley in Banks, Ore., but then actually forgot his clubs at home. Being a southpaw, getting replacement clubs was itself not the easiest of tasks. The clubs he rented were called “The Aggressor,” and lucky for him he was just good enough that day to make the championship field, qualifying at the high score of 76. Luckily, he did not have to play in the possible playoff of 20 players competing for 15 final spots as 5 players did not show.
His year started to look better at the Oregon Public Links Championship when he repeated the title he earned in 2005 (the last time the event was held at Sandpines). In 2005, Hagen shot an incredible 2-under par 35-35-70 in difficult conditions that included rain and gusty winds to come from behind and win the Oregon Public Links championship with a two day total of even par 74-70-144. This year, the competition was intriguing in a different way. Hagan, had a 3-stroke lead after posting a first round score of 66, but then he nearly lost it in round two shooting 39 on the front nine. Fortunately, he regained his composure with a magnificent 33 on the back nine almost shooting birdie-par- birdie on his last three holes and finishing at 6-under par 66-72–138.
Three weeks later at the Oregon Amateur Championship, Hagen shot 75-77 in the qualifying rounds and was seeded 45th going into match play. The Oregon Men’s Amateur champion plays nine rounds of golf en route to the title. After the 36-hole qualifier, Hagen defeated Columbia Edgewater’s Randy Mahar 1up, Jason Wood from Eastmoreland 6 & 5, 2005 Oregon Amateur Champion Alex Stamey 8 & 7, Columbia Edgewater’s Cody Upham 5 & 4 and Oregon State’s Tim Sundseth 3 & 2. He steamrolled his competition, leading the field with the most birdies en route to the championship including 12 just in the 36-hole final.
