Brent Wilson secures four-shot Pacific Northwest Mid-Amateur win
2015 PNGA Mid-Am winner Brent Wilson (PNGA photo)
VICTORIA, Canada — Brent Wilson had never played in a Pacific Northwest Golf Association event until this week's PNGA Mid-Amateur Championship. He opened up with a 5-over 76 and trailed the first-round leaders by eight shots. But by week's end, Wilson was crowned champion by four.
Wilson rebounded from his tough first round, firing 65 — the lowest score of the entire tournament by three shots — during the second round to crawl within one of the lead. Then, Wilson closed out the event with 1-under par 70 to move four ahead of one of two 36-hole leaders, Rob Olson of Victoria.
Wilson, 33 of Cobble Hill, B.C., began Wednesday with a bang, making eagle at the par-5 first hole. Then he birdied three of his next six and finished the day without a bogey. His 70 on Thursday wrapped up the victory, while Olson posted 75 and took second place. Erik Hanson, the other second-round leader, struggled to an 80 and fell back into a tie for 10th.
“It means a lot to me, personally,” Wilson told the PNGA when asked what this win means to him. “This is the biggest event I’ve ever won. And to do it in my home town and in front of friends and family, it’s a great feeling. I was definitely hitting the ball well all week, hitting a lot of fairways and greens.
"I thought I was going to have to go a little lower today (to win), but when I saw Erik and Rob struggling on the front nine, and I knew I just needed to make pars and I’d be okay.”
Playing Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, B.C., this 54-hole championship featured the best amateur players over the age of 25 from the Northwest area of North America, including the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
View results for PNGA Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE PNGA Mid-Amateur
Format: 54-hole Stroke Play Competition (Gross
only). The field will be cut to the low 60 players and
ties for the final round.
Age Limit: Entrants must be 25 years of age or older
by the start of the tournament.
Handicap Limit: Entrants must have a USGA
Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of
8.4 or less.
View Complete Tournament Information