Oregon Public Links: Jake Quast and Haleigh Krause lead respective divisions

EUGENE, OR (August 13, 2016) -- Emerald Valley Golf Club is known to be one of the toughest tests of championship golf in the state of Oregon. The course proved to be even a bit more difficult for Saturday’s opening round at the 19th playing of the Oregon Public Links Championship as near-100 degree temperatures made for firm, fast conditions. However, some of Oregon’s best public course players found ways to score.

Dominican University player Jake Quast (Medford, Ore.) leads the Men’s Championship Division after firing a bogey free four-under par 67. Tyler Nelson (Lake Oswego, Ore.) is one shot back after opening with a three-under par 68, and Calvin Green (Springfield, Ore.) is two back after a two-under par 69. Five players are three behind at one-under par.

In the Men’s Open Division, Jesse Lehman (Sandy, Ore.) holds a one shot lead after posting a four-over par 76. Ken Smolek (Eugene, Ore.) and Billy Anderson (Eugene, Ore.), who won the Men’s Open Division last year, are both one shot behind after each shooting five- over par 77s.

San Diego State player Haleigh Krause (Eugene, Ore.) jumped out to a four shot lead in the Women’s Division after shooting a four-under par 68. University of Oregon player Brooke Hamilton (Mt. Roskill, NZ) is two shots back after piecing together a solid even-par 72 on the day, and Eastern Washington-bound Madalyn Ardueser (Eugene, Ore.) is in distant third after a four- over par 76.

The 19th Oregon Public Links Championship, a championship strictly for players from public golf courses, will continue tomorrow with the final 18 holes of stroke play to determine the champions of each division. Tee times start at 7:00 a.m. PST, with the Women’s Championship final group teeing off at 8:20 a.m. and the Men’s Championship final group teeing off at 12:35 p.m.