Carl Yuan opens strong at Pacific Northwest Amateur
Carl Yuan
(Washington Athletics Photo)
WALLA WALLA, WA (July 18, 2016) -- Carl Yuan started his Pacific Northwest Amateur at Wine Valley Golf Club, with a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take the lead on day one of stroke play qualifying. Yuan, a rising sophomore at Washington, will look to wrap up medalist honors on Tuesday as he carries a two shot lead into the final day of stroke play.
Teeing off on No. 10, Yuan parred the first three holes before birdieing holes 13-15 in succession to reach 3-under. Yuan didn't birdie another hole until he reached No. 3, which began another torrid stretch of four birdies over the course of his final seven holes.
The Washington sophomore combined scores of 32-33 on day one.
A quartet of players are tied for second place; Frank Garber, Harrison Murphy, James Grierson and Pete Griffith all shot 5-under 67's.
Garber, a teammate of Yuan at Washington, birdied seven holes and bogeyed two on Monday. The birds for Garber came in bunches with his first five coming in a six hole stretch from Nos. 7-12. The Washington junior, then carded his final two on consecutive holes, Nos. 17 and 18 to complete his round.
Harrison Murphy birdied six and bogeyed one on his way to 67. Murphy birdied No. 3 before birdieing 6-8 and then 11 and 17. His only bogey was on the 9th.
James Grierson came firing out of the gates with five birdies on his opening nine, the back nine. He birdied his first hole two holes of the day and then rolled in birds on three of the final four holes on his opening side for a 5-under 31. His final nine was more mundane with two birdies and two bogeys.
The final player to shoot a 67 was Pete Griffith, who did most of his bogey-free damage on his final nine. Starting on No. 10, Griffith birdied the 11th before parring eight straight holes. Now on the frontside, the rising Northwestern sophomore caught fire with birdies on holes 2, 4, 6 and 7 to close in a flurry with a 4-under 32.
Tuesday marks the final day of stroke play before the focus turns to match play. The top-64 players will advance.
ABOUT THE PNGA Amateur
First held in 1899, the Pacific Northwest Men’s
Amateur
is one of the country’s longest running amateur
championships. Held annually at world-class courses
throughout the Pacific Northwest, this championship
is
played in the same format as the U.S. Amateur and
features an impressive list of past champions that
include; Nick Flanagan, Ben Crane, Jeff Quinney, Bill
Sander, and Tiger Woods. Eligibility is open to
members
of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association and top
amateurs throughout the world invited via
Presidential
Invitation. Each year’s champion earns a hosted
exemption in to the Pacific Coast Amateur and
Sahalee
Players Championship.
The Championship will be conducted in two stages:
Stroke Play – All players must complete the 36-hole
stroke play qualifying in order to determine the 64
players who will advance to match play. In the event
of a tie for the final qualifying spot(s), a sudden-
death playoff will be used to determine the qualifiers.
In the event of a tie for the Qualifying Medalist, a
sudden-death playoff will commence.
Match Play – The General Numerical Draw will be in
effect. Single elimination match play. 36-hole
Championship Final Match. All other matches are 18
holes.
View Complete Tournament Information