Forster takes top spot as match play begins at Oregon Senior

SALEM, Ore. (Sept. 4, 2018) – Ken Forster of Salem, Ore., earned medalist honors at his home course during stroke-play qualifying at the 35th Oregon Senior Amateur Championship, held this week at Illahe Hills Country Club.

With stroke-play qualifying complete, the event now changes to match play. The top 32 scorers are in the championship bracket, while the rest of the field competes in flighted brackets.

Forster, a member at Illahe Hills, fired a scorching 5-under 67 on Tuesday to earn medalist honors and the No. 1 seed in match play. The retired teacher is a member of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Hall of Fame, with OGA wins including the 1990 Oregon Mid-Amateur and OGA Tournament of Champions. He’s been the PNGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year twice, in 2002 and 2003.

Scott Alford of Camas, Wash., earned second place during stroke-play qualifying. He finished at 3-under 69 for 18 holes. Four players shot 71 and finished at 1-under par: Mike Fritz (Portland, Ore.), Bob Harrington (Portland, Ore.), Grayson Karsten (Ridgefield, Wash.) and George White (Vancouver, Wash.).

As defending champion, Harrington agreed to the No. 2 seed in match play before stroke-play qualifying began.

Five-time champion Pat O’Donnell (Happy Valley, Ore.) shot 72 (E) and easily advanced to the championship bracket. Last year’s runner-up, Tim O’Neal (Vancouver, Wash.) shot 2-over 74 and also finished in the top 32.

Seven players tied for the final four spots in the championship bracket at 6-over par. After a playoff, Mark Bowler (Portland, Ore.), Jack Schneider (Oregon City, Ore.), Todd Strible (Bend, Ore.) and Kim Wenger (Eugene, Ore.) advanced.

Players on the championship bracket will play round-of-32 and round-of-16 matches on Wednesday, with quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Thursday. The 18-hole final will take place Friday.