Pacific Northwest Senior: Brian Leff and Jim McNelis win titles

Brian Leff of Happy Valley, Ore. shot rounds of 75-73-73 to win the 58th Pacific Northwest Senior Men’s Amateur Championship; while Jim McNelis of Gig Harbor, Wash. won the 13th Super Senior Men’s Amateur after rounds of 76-73-75. Both championships were conducted this week, September 12-14 at Canterwood Golf & Country Club in Gig Harbor, Wash. Leff entered the final round two shots off the lead in the Senior Men’s Amateur and was paired in the final group. He caught fire early on in his final round, firing a bogey-free 4-under 32 on the front-nine to open up a three-shot lead on second-round leader Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash. Leff was able to hold it together on the back-nine, and even after making a triple bogey on the 13th hole, he was able to stay the course and cruise to a two-shot victory. This marks the first PNGA title for Leff. Six-time PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur champion Tom Brandes finished in second place. In the Super Senior Men’s Amateur, McNelis, a member at Canterwood Golf & Country Club, took advantage of his home course and coasted to a three-shot victory over second-place finisher Norm Bradley of Kelowna, B.C. McNelis had entered the final round with a two-shot lead, and he put together a consistent final round, carding one birdie and four pars to seal the deal. This marks the first PNGA title for McNelis. In 2022 he won the Washington Super Senior Men’s Amateur. The PNGA Senior and Super Senior Men’s Amateur Championships are two of 11 major, regional amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest. Entries for both championships were open to male amateur golfers who are members of a PNGA Member Association with an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor not exceeding 8.4. Players in the Senior Championship must have been fifty-five or older, while players in the Super Senior Championship must have been sixty-five or older.