Pacific Northwest Am: Fink medalist

BEND, Ore. (July 12, 2011) -- The 36-hole stroke play qualifying at the 110th Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) finished up today with 152 players vying for a place in the top 64. Oregon State University teammates, David Fink of Kailua, HI and Matt Rawitzer of Bellingham, WA finished the qualifying tied at 7-under par 137 to force a playoff for medalist honors and the #1 seed in match play. On the first playoff hole, Fink made a birdie to capture the Charles Henry Davis Medalist Award. After a wayward drive, Fink hit the flagstick with his approach from the desert and made the putt to best Rawitzer who was not able to convert a 12-foot birdie putt of his own. Fink started the day two strokes back of first round leader Chris Williams of Moscow, Idaho, but made 8 birdies on the day which came on holes Nos. 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, and 18 to set the new competitive course record with a 5-under par 67. Rawitzer also set out today on a blistering pace and recorded 3 birdies in a row on holes Nos. 2, 3, and 4 before holing out for eagle on the 426 yard par-4 5th hole. Turning in 5-under par 31, Rawitzer then made another streak of birdies on holes Nos. 10, 11, and 12 to get to 8-under par on his round. An approach shot which landed in the water on the par-5 13th hole was enough to record a double bogey and bogeys on the following two holes brought him back to 4-under par where he would eventually finish with a 68. There was a 3-man playoff for the #64 seed with a 36-hole total of 156. Tyler Parker of Portland, Ore. made birdie on the first two playoff holes to best Thomas Gocke of Sammamish, Wash. and Sang Gyun Angelo Lee of Calgary, AB. The Championship began with 36-holes of stroke play qualifying followed by a cut to the low 64 players who will advance to single elimination match play. The Round of 64 will commence Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. off of the #1 tee.