Champions crowned at PNGA Senior Team Championships
At the 36th Pacific Northwest Senior Team Championships, Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash. and Craig Larson of Tacoma, Wash. won the Men’s Senior Team title; John Gallacher or Burnaby, B.C. and Gudmund Lindbjerg of Port Moody, B.C. won the 3rd PNGA Men’s Super Senior Team; Ginny Burkey and Leilani Norman, both of Eugene, Ore., successfully defended their title in the Women’s Senior Team; and Mary Ryan of Renton, Wash. and Sun Douthit of Steilacoom, Wash. won their third title in a row at the 3rd PNGA Women’s Super Senior Team.
The four championships were held this week on the Olympic and Cascade courses at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. and were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA). Each was played in three successive rounds of Four-Ball, Chapman and Four-Ball formats.
Men’s Championship Links:
Looking for their third Men’s Senior Team title in a row, Hanson and Larson entered the day with a three shot lead and combined for a final round 5-under par 67 in today’s Four-Ball stroke play (Best-Ball) format to clinch a four shot victory.
The duo opened the week with a 10-under 62 on the Gold Mountain Cascade course and that momentum from the first round seemed to carry them through the week. “Everything was just on that day,” said Larson.
With the victory, Hanson and Larson have now won the Men’s Senior Team championship three years in a row and the victory marks the eighth PNGA title for Hanson.
“It gets a little harder every year seemingly,” said Hanson with a smile “because we get older and more 50-year olds come into the field.”
Finishing at 12-under overall and in second place are teammates Norm Bradley of Kelowna, B.C. and Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C.
Click here for Hanson and Larson’s post-round interview.
In the Men’s Super Senior Team, Gallacher and Lindbjerg entered the day with a comfortable eight shot lead and closed with a final round 5-under 67 in the Four-Ball sroke play (Best-Ball) format to glide to a five shot victory.
“We had a pretty good first couple days, which was encouraging, and finished off with a fairly comfortable day today,” said Gallacher.
This marks the second consecutive Super Senior Team title for Gallacher and Lindbjerg. The duo had teamed together to win the Senior Team title in 2014 and Gallacher won the 2017 PNGA Super Senior Men’s Amateur.
Finishing five shots back and in second place is the team of Larry Daniels of Seattle, Wash. and Michael Jonson of Sammamish, Wash.
Click here to view the complete post-round interview with Gallacher and Lindbjerg.
Women’s Championship Links:
In the Women’s Senior Team championship, Burkey and Norman entered their final round with a comfortable five-shot lead at 6-under overall and held steady with a closing round of even-par 72 in the Four-Ball stroke play (Best-Ball) format to seal the deal.
“We birdied the first two holes, so that kind of set the tone. And then she [Burkey] makes a hole-in-one on seven,” said Norman, speaking about their opening round.
According to both teammates, the key to victory was their play in the Chapman format during Tuesday’s second round. “The Chapman is always hard, and it seemed like we ham and egged it on that one the best,” said Burkey. “Anytime you’re even-par in a Chapman you’re doing well and to be 3-under I thought was pretty exceptional.”
This marks the eighth time that Burkey has won the Women’s Senior Team title, having won with three different playing partners. Norman was named the 2015 PNGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year.
Finishing in second place with a 54-hole score of 2-over par is the team of Gretchen Klein of Hoquiam, Wash. and Yasue Alkins of Steilacoom, Wash.
Click here to view the full interview with Burkey and Norman.
In the Women’s Super Senior Team, Ryan and Douthit began their final round in a tie for second, two shots back of the leaders and combined for an impressive closing round of even-par 72 in the Four-Ball stroke play (Best-Ball) format to leap to the top of the leader board for a seven shot victory.
Finishing in second place is the team of Mary O’Donnell of Bellevue, Wash. and Carol Dick of Lakewood, Wash.
This is the third year in a row Ryan and Douthit have won the championship, making them the only pair to have won the PNGA Women’s Super Senior Team title. “We’ll be back next year in the Super Senior category,” said Ryan.
Click here for the full video interview with Ryan and Douthit.
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.
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