Sam Renner from Bend, Ore., won the 122nd Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Championship with a 2-up victory over Bryden Brown from Moscow, Idaho, in the 36-hole final match. The championship was held this week, July 8-13, at Wine Valley Golf Club.
The championship began with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on July 8 and 9, followed by 18-hole single-elimination match play on July 10-12, concluding today, July 13, with a 36-hole final match.
In the morning 18, Renner, the medalist and No. 1 seed in the bracket, jumped out to an early lead, winning four of the first seven holes, and had a 3-up lead after the first nine.
He then won two of the first three holes on the back nine and ultimately built a 6-up lead after a birdie on the par-5 15th hole. Brown, the No. 11 seed, managed to get one back on the 18th, trailing five down after the morning round.
Renner won the 19th hole to go 6-up, and the two players matched scores on the next two holes. Brown caught fire on the 22nd hole and mounted an epic comeback effort. He won four straight holes to cut the deficit to two after 25 holes.
Renner won the 27th hole and the two matched scores on the next three holes before Brown caught fire again, winning three holes in a row to tie the match after 33 holes. The two players matched bogeys on the 34th hole before Renner made par on the long par-4 35th hole to regain a 1-up lead. He then birdied the 18th hole to seal a 2-up win.
“I played really good in the stroke play and made a lot of putts,” said Renner. “I came out today and had an early lead, and kind of lost it a little, but I grinded it out.”
Renner had his mom as his caddie for the entire week, and he was grateful to have her out there.
“It means a lot; she’s a trooper. She walked 63 miles this week, and I love her so much,” said Renner. “I couldn’t ask for a better caddie.”
