Prince Takes Medalist Honors at 112th Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur; Jacobs Medals in 12th Mid-Amateur

Kendall Prince of Corvallis, Ore. followed up yesterday’s course record 5-under par 67 with a solid 73 in the second round of stroke-play qualifying to take Medalist honors in the 112th Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship, being held at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash. Prince will be the No. 1 seed entering tomorrow’s Round of 32 in the match play portion of the championship.

A graduate of Lake Oswego (Ore.) High School, Prince is continuing her sizzling summer, having already won the 2013 Oregon Women’s Amateur last month, a championship in which she finished runner-up in 2012.

Finishing second, three shots behind Prince, is Monica Vaughn of Reedsport, Ore. Vaughn just graduated from Reedsport High School where she recently won her second Oregon high school state championship.

Last year’s champion, Chessey Thomas of Spokane, finished third, five shots behind Prince.

The women’s amateur championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying. The field has now been cut to the low 32 players who advance to single elimination match play, with tomorrow’s first tee time scheduled for 7:30 a.m.

In the 12th Pacific Northwest Women’s Mid-Amateur, being held concurrently at Wine Valley, Amanda Jacobs of Seattle took Medalist honors with rounds of 79-72. “It’s a great golf course, a tough golf course,” said Jacobs, after her round. “It reminds me of the courses in Idaho where I went to school.” Jacobs played golf at the University of Idaho for four years, and won the 2009 Oregon Coast Invitational. She enters the match play bracket as the No. 1 seed. Watch Jacobs’ interview here.

Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho, who won this championship in 2005 and ’07 and was runner-up in 2004, ’06 and ’11, finished two shots behind Jacobs.

These championships are conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association. Wine Valley Golf Club hosted the 111th Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship last year, and will host the Northwest Open on August 19-21.

First held in 1899, Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur Championship is one of the oldest amateur golf championships in the world. Past champions include Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Famers who made up the Golden Age of female golfers in the Northwest such as Joanne Gunderson Carner, Jo Ann Washam, Pat Lesser Harbottle, Edean Ihlanfeldt, Violet Pooly Sweeney, Marcia Fisher, Betty Jean Hulteng, among others. Past champions also include many who would later go on to the LPGA Tour, such as Jimin Kang, Peggy Conley, Ruth Jessen and Shirley Englehorn.