Kuhn, Dunn, Bae share lead at PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur; Carey separates from Super Senior field
Anaconda, Mont. – Darren Kuhn (Pocatello, Idaho), Bill Dunn (Missoula, Mont.) and Yi Bae (University Place, Wash.) shot rounds of 76, 72 and 72, respectively, in today’s second round to tie for the lead in the 60th Pacific Northwest Senior Men’s Amateur Championship at 1-under par; while Brad Carey of Lake Oswego, Ore. shot a 2-under 70 to lead the 15th Pacific Northwest Super Senior Men’s Amateur at 3-under par. Both championships are being held this week, September 16-18, at Old Works Golf Club in Anaconda, Mont.
The week marks just the third time Montana will host a PNGA championship, and first since the PNGA and Montana State Golf Association (MSGA) began their partnership in 2024.
Championship Links:
With two 18-hole rounds of stroke play complete in both championships, one more will follow for each tomorrow. A hole-by-hole playoff would determine each respective champion if necessary.
Kuhn entered the second day placed second at 5-under par. On his first nine holes, he corrected two early bogeys with birdies on holes 4 and 6, eventually making the turn at even par for the round. He went 3-over through holes 11 and 12 and birdied the 14th, before another double on 16 concluded a tricky way home, but still a piece of the lead.
One of Idaho’s top senior players, Kuhn won the 2024 Idaho Senior Amateur and the 2025 Idaho Senior Match Play. In 2024, he was named the PNGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year. He plays out of Juniper Hills Country Club in Pocatello. Looking for his second PNGA title and first since the 2018 Men’s Master-40, Kuhn will hope for a final round that resembles his first.
Dunn’s second round began with two bogeys in his first three holes, and he made the turn 2-over for his round. He avoided further trouble until he went bogey-bogey on holes 16 and 17 but lessened the damage with a birdie on the 18th to settle for a total of 75.
Although Dunn is not yet a PNGA winner, he is well-known in MSGA competition. He has won the Montana Senior Amateur three times and is the current back-to-back champion of the Montana Senior Match play. He was inducted into the MSGA Hall of Fame in 2022.
The only one of the three leaders based out of Montana, Dunn will look to bag his first PNGA title in the state where he’s already accomplished plenty.
Bae has consistent play to thank for his share of the lead. Quietly entering the day five shots back after opening with a 71, Bae began his second day well, with three birdies through his opening five holes. He eventually gave each back on holes 8, 11 and 14, but avoided carding a double or worse throughout the day and posted an even-par 72.
“I just stumbled my way in,” said Bae, who still works full-time and plays out of Tacoma Country and Golf Club.
Not usually a participant of weekday championships, Bae is nonetheless in the mix this week and has a shot at his first PNGA title.
Behind the three-way tie at the top, Robb Price (Eagle, Idaho) and Brad Grattan (Kalispell, Mont.) share second at even par.
In the Super Senior, Carey enjoyed a fairly organized afternoon. After going even on his first nine, birdies on holes 10 and 15 allowed him to finish with the day’s only under-par Super Senior round. At 3-under for the championship, Carey leads by five shots over PNGA Hall-of-Famer Pat O’Donnell (Happy Valley, Ore.)
With such a cushion over those behind him, Carey will attempt to win a second PNGA Super Senior Men’s title (2022).
These championships are two of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors and senior conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
