BELLINGHAM, Wash. (Sept 29, 2011) -- Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash. began the day one stroke behind first round leader Keith Crimp of Ellensburg, Wash. He will now enjoy a one stroke lead heading into the final round after posting a flawless round of 2-under par 70 that included 17 pars and an eagle-3 on the 521 yard 11th hole.
With an opening round of 1-under par 71, McNelis sits atop the leaderboard at 3-under par 141. No stranger to championship golf, McNelis has already played in the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships earlier this summer.
In second place just one stroke behind McNelis at 2-under par 142 is Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash. who followed a first round even par 72 with a 2-under par 70 today. On his round today Brandes carded 3 birdies at holes 1, 8, and 11 with a lone bogey on the difficult par-4 2nd hole. Brandes is also familiar to the top of the leaderboard and has played in two U.S. Senior Opens in 2009 and 2010 and the 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur where he eventually lost a close match to the eventual champion in the round of 64. Both McNelis and Brandes are playing in their first Washington State Senior Amateur Championship as they both just turned 55 this year.
In third place and rounding out the final pairing at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow is defending champion Keith Crimp of Ellensburg, Wash. who followed up his round of 2-under par 70 yesterday with a 1-over par 73 today for a 36-hole total of 1-under par 143. In his round today Crimp posted birdies on the 5th and 17th holes with bogeys carded at holes 1, 13, and 14.
Other past champions in the Senior Championship field include 2009 Champion, Larry Daniels of Seattle, Wash. (148), 2008 Champion, Kent Brown of Colville, Wash. (148), 2004 Champion, Fred Urquhart of Bellingham, Wash. (148) and 1998 Champion, Rick Weihe of Bellingham, Wash. (151).
In the 4th Annual Super Senior Men’s Amateur Championship, Ron Peterson of Coquitlam, BC followed up his opening round of 2-under par 70 with a round of 6-over par 78 for a two day total of 4-over par 148. Heading into tomorrow’s final round, Peterson holds a 5-stroke lead over Mick Remington of Sammamish, Wash. and Ted King of Bellingham, Wash. who both sit at 9-over par 153. Remington posted the low round of the day and made the biggest move up the leaderboard with an even par 72 to follow up his opening round of 9-over par 81. King who has won the 2010 Pacific Northwest Super Senior Champion has posted rounds of 77-76
2009 and 2010 Champion, Bruce Richards of Seattle, Wash. followed up an opening round of 8-over par 80 with a 7-over par 79 today, giving him a 36-hole total of 15-over par 159 and a share of 9th place.
View results for Washington Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE Washington Senior Amateur
54-hole gross stroke play competition (overall
and by age division). Senior Division 55 years of
age or older. Super Senior Division 65 years of
age or older.
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