Some upsets at the Master-40, and some heavyweights carry on

During today’s Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches at the 42nd Pacific Northwest Master-40 Amateur Championship, there were one or two upsets, but for most of the day the region’s heavyweights are making their way through the match-play bracket.

The championship, being conducted by the PNGA at Salish Cliffs Golf Club in Shelton, Wash., was played under cloudy skies and mild temperatures, and yielded to excellent play.

The No. 1 seed, Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash., eked out his two matches. He defeated Ryan Mulhern of Vancouver, B.C. 2-up in the morning match, then in the afternoon’s Round of 16 he was taken to extra holes by Don Bidinger of Bainbridge Island, Wash., with Hanson winning on the 19th hole.

Hanson will face Kevin Burnett of Seattle in tomorrow morning’s quarterfinal match. Burnett, the No. 25 seed, upset No. 8 seed Jeff Byrnes of Buckley, Wash. in the Round of 32, and then dispatched Rob Bringardner of Snoqualmie, who had earlier in the day upset Ray Schuler of Tacoma.

Hanson is trying for his fourth title in this championship, having won in 2007, 2010 and 2015. He was named the 2016 WSGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year.

Defending champion Dana Christianson of Tacoma made it through is Round of 32 match, but in the Round of 16 he was defeated in 19 holes by Craig Larson of Tacoma.

The 2003 champion, Paul Houvener of Mill Creek, Wash., is still in the hunt. As is No. 2 seed Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash. Brandes, a 2015 inductee into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame, won the Washington Senior Open earlier this season.

Tomorrow’s quarterfinal matches start at 7:30 a.m., with the semifinal matches played tomorrow afternoon. The final 18-hole championship match will be held on Friday, June 30. 

Click here for complete information about the championship.

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