Hartnett, Christensen, and Hildahl win PNGA Amateur Public Links Championship
Moses Lake, Wash. (August 28, 2011) – Champions were crowned this afternoon at the 28th Annual Pacific Northwest Men’s and 14th Annual Senior Men’s and Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) at The Links at Moses Pointe. Players were treated to another beautiful day with more sunshine and perfect playing conditions on the desert classic design perched high above the west-shore of Moses Lake.
The Men’s Championship title came down to a duel between first round leaders, Stephen Hartnett of Boise, Idaho and Evan Needham of Bellingham, Wash. Needham entered the 18th hole with a 2-stroke lead but made a costly bogey while Hartnett made his 7th birdie of the day to tie for the lead at 7-under par 137. Riding the momentum, Hartnett calmly sank a 3-foot par putt on the first playoff hole to seal the victory.
When asked about the victory at the awards ceremony Hartnett said, “I had to lose a lot of these tournaments to win this one, so it feels really good. Evan played great golf all weekend and my hats off to him.”
In the Senior Men’s Championship Bob Christensen of Post Falls, Idaho came from behind to win the Senior Men’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Christensen started the final round 1 shot off the lead and quickly made up the difference on first round leaders Keith Crimp of Ellensburg, Wash. and Rich Evenson of Mercer Island, Wash. by eagling the first hole of the day. Christensen kept the pressure on making 4 birdies and a lone bogey for a round of 5-under par 67 taking his two-day championship winning score to an incredible 9-under par 135. Crimp, the reigning Washington State Senior Men’s Amateur Champion, would post a 1-over par 73 for a two-day total of 4-under par 140 good enough for a runner-up finish. Defending champion Dave Farnam of Kent, Wash., 4-time champion Kent Brown (05’-09’) of Colville, Wash., and Ken Thompson of Lantzville, B.C. finished in a tie for third place at 3-under par 141.
In the Women’s Championship 2008 and 2010 Champion, Kate Hildahl of Tualatin, Ore., captured her record tying third PNGA Women’s Amateur Public Links crown after shooting a final round 1-over par bringing her championship winning total to 1-under par 143. Hildahl used 3 birdies, 2 bogeys, and a lone double bogey today making her the only competitor in the field to break par for the 36-hole championship. Brittany Tallman of Issaquah, Wash. shot the best single round of the championship with an impressive 4-under par 68 to earn runner-up honors with a two-day total of 1-over par 145. First round co-leader Victoria Fallgren of Lakewood, Cal. finished in third place at 2-over par 146.
