Reid Hatley wins PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur in convincing fashion
Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho shot rounds of 73-71-71 to win the 34th Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held this week at Crane Creek Country Club in Boise, Idaho.
Hatley was the only player in the field to finish under par, and his three-day total of 215 was five strokes better than Erik Hanson (Kirkland, Wash.) and Jesse Hibler (Meridian, Idaho), who tied for second at 220.
The 54-hole stroke-play championship was conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).
Championship links:
“It’s a five-shot win, but it was really a lot closer than that coming down the home stretch,” said Hatley. “I kind of separated myself from 13 to 18, but you can’t relax on any of the holes, every single one is a challenge.”
Hibler, who held the first round lead after opening with a 2-under 70, still had a chance at catching Hatley in today’s final round. With nine holes to play he trailed Hatley by just one shot, but Hibler opened the back nine with bogeys on four out of five holes. Hanson made a charge on the back nine, with four birdies over his final seven holes to tie Hibler for second place.
With this week’s win, Hatley continues his summer of stellar play. Last week he won the Washington State Men’s Mid-Amateur, and two weeks ago qualified for the 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Earlier this year, he tied for sixth in the Mexican Amateur, and made it to the quarterfinals of the PNGA Men’s Amateur. He was also on the winning WSGA team that won the Morse Cup competition within this summer’s Pacific Coast Amateur, held at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Hatley has been named the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year the past three years (2015-17).
To be eligible for the 2018 PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, players must be 25 years of age or older by September 5, 2018 and require a USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or lower to be eligible.
Crane Creek Country Club has recently completed a multi-phase, multi-million dollar renovation, which included upgrades to its clubhouse, tennis facility, driving range, and significant changes to its golf course, including a completely re-designed back nine. Crane Creek has twice hosted the PNGA Cup (2009, 2013). Visit www.cranecreekcountryclub.com for more information.
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.