Hanson wins Washington Senior Men’s Amateur

Erik Hanson of Kirkland, Wash. shot rounds of 74-71-73 to win the 36th Washington Senior Men’s Amateur Championship; while Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash. fired rounds of 72-72-81 to win the 15th Washington Super Senior Men’s Amateur at Desert Canyon Golf Resort in Orondo, Wash.

Hanson entered the day in second place, one shot off the lead, and he fired the low round of the day, a 1-over par 73, to comfortably take home the title. He won by five shots over Nate Hair of Spokane and Todd Tibke of Snohomish who both finished in a tie for second place.

This is Hanson's second individual state title who won the 2019 Washington Men’s Mid-Amateur. Earlier this year, Hanson won the PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur.

Jim McNelis

In the Super Senior, McNelis had entered the day with a three-shot lead and his round of 9-over par 81 in today’s final round proved good enough as he coasted to a six-shot victory over second-place finisher David Talcott of Milton.

“It was a tough fight coming in today with the wind,” said McNelis, “luckily, I had a little pad starting the day, so I was able to get it done.”

This is the second individual state title for McNelis who won the 2017 Washington Senior Men’s Amateur. In 2019, he and partner Karl Smith combined to win the Washington Senior Men’s Four-Ball.

“Anytime you can get an individual title, you feel good about it,” said McNelis.