Hanson holds it together for Washington Mid-Amateur win
Erik Hanson (WSGA photo)
Erik Hanson (Kirkland, Wash.) shot rounds of 68-73 to win the 10th Washington State Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held this week at Mill Creek (Wash.) Country Club.
Hanson had begun today’s final round with a one-stroke lead over Justin Haines (Seattle), but in tough windy conditions on the tight layout of Mill Creek, Hanson was the only one who held it together as the rest of the field fell away.
In the full field of 120 players, Hanson, 54, was the only player in the 36-hole championship to finish under par.
This is the first Washington State title Hanson, who has won eight Pacific Northwest (PNGA) titles. He has twice finished runner-up in the Washington State Men’s Mid-Amateur, in 2015 and 2010.
“Yes, that is true,” Hanson said about this being his first State title. “I don’t know if I just play better in the Pacific Northwest events or not, but there is more of them. We had just the State Amateur for a number of years. There is now the Mid-Am, but for some reason it has just eluded me.”
Hanson described how he was able to break through this year. “This golf course suited me. You have to manage your ball flight, and keep it in play. There’s a lot of hazards out here (at Mill Creek). You really have to golf your ball around here. It requires a lot of shot variety. And if you miss greens, you’re going to get some rough lies, and it’s really hard to get up and down.”
The defending champion, Reid Hatley (Hayden Lake, Idaho), shot rounds of 74-70 to finish in second place, three shots back of Hanson. Hatley has won this title twice already, in 2016 and 2018.
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ABOUT THE Washington Mid-Amateur
Stroke play championship for amateurs aged
25+. Must be a member of a WSGA member club.
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