Smith earns medalist honors at PNGA Master-40; bracket set
Shelton, Wash. – Nate Smith of Tetonia, Idaho shot rounds of 69-69 (-6 total) to earn medalist honors in qualifying at the 50th Pacific Northwest Men’s Master-40 Amateur Championship, being held this week at Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, Wash. Smith will be the No. 1 seed entering the match play portion of the championship.
The championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on August 4-5 to determine match play seeding. The top 32 players have qualified for single-elimination match play. All matches will be contested over 18 holes, with the final match being held Friday, August 8.
Championship links:
Smith entered the day with the lead, having been the only player to post a sub-70 round in round one. He encountered some turbulence early with a double bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, but rebounded aggressively later with a five-birdie second nine to finish two shots ahead of Gary Pike (Victoria, B.C.)
Smith is in search of his first PNGA title, but the 41-year-old won the 2024 Idaho Men’s Amateur and is a former professional player with 25 starts on the PGA Tour. He has one win on the Korn Ferry (formerly Nationwide) Tour, from September 2010.
Among the additional players to advance to the match play portion of the championship are last year’s runner-up Garrett Stephens of Carnation, Wash.; 2020 champion Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash.; 2017, 2015, 2010 and 2007 champion Erik Hanson of Kirkland Wash.; 2014 champion Nate Hair of Spokane, Wash.; and 2016 champion Dana Christianson of Tacoma, Wash.
Salish Cliffs most recently hosted the championship in 2017.
To be eligible for the championship, contestants must have been 40 years of age or older by August 4, 2025. Competitors must have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor not exceeding 8.4 at the time of entry and must be a member in good standing of a PNGA Member Association.
The Pacific Northwest Men’s Master-40 Amateur is one of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
About Salish Cliffs Golf Club
Salish Cliffs is an amenity of the Little Creek Casino & Resort, which is owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe. Designed by Gene Bates and opened in 2011, the course is consistently ranked in the top 100 resort courses by Golfweek magazine. Visit salishcliffs.com for more information.
