TO LEAD PLAYERS INTO MATCH PLAY
Although she was one of the few players not to improve her score in the
second round, Kendra Little, 20 of Eugene, Ore. was able to maintain her
lead and take medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 11-over par
77-78--155. Amy Beth Simanton, 17, was alone in second, just three
strokes back. Simanton recently completed her senior year at Lake Oswego
High School and was the runner-up in last year's Oregon Junior Amateur
that also was held at Bandon Dunes.With stroke play rounds completed, the women's field was cut to the top 32-players and seeded for single elimination match play based on their stroke play scores for match play. Little and Simanton are seeded 1 and 2 respectively.
The majority of players advancing to match play and in the top-half of the draw come from current or recent collegiate ranks including defending champion Kate Hildahl, 20, of Tualatin, Ore. who plays for the University of Oregon along with fellow teammate Erica Omlid of Sprinfield, Ore., Breanne Smith, 21, of Canby, Ore. who plays for Indiana State, Jordan Allyne, 20, of Bellevue, Wash. who plays for the University of North Carolina; Katie Saucier, 20, of Bainbridge Island, Wash. who plays for the University of Washington and Amada Jacobs, 21, of Portland, Ore. who plays for the University of Idaho.
Also vying for the title will be two-time Champion Charisse Spada, 47, of Porland, Ore. who won the 1982 and 1999 titles, former LPGA Tour member Debbie Hall-Friede, 49, of Portland, Ore., 2007 Oregon Amateur Champion Kristen Svicarovich, 24, of Hillsboro, Ore., who advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Women's Amateur when it was last held at Pumpkin Ridge, and Sandy Woodruff, 60, of Santa Cruz, Calif. the 2006 California Women's State Champion.
While the Women's scores improved dramatically, the same was not true for the Men's side of the competition as the overall scoring average remained consistent as the afternoon winds were not as powerful as the day before. But one thing that rang true for both fields is the domination from the collegiate ranks.
Earning medalist honors by two strokes over the field was Kevin Beavers, 25, of Portland, Ore. with a 6-over par 74-76--150. Beavers played for the Portland Pilots in 2006-07 leading a contingent of seven players with ties to the Pilots golf team including Pilots head coach Bill Winter. Joining them will be sophomores Jake Wagner (T2), Justin Smithhisler (T11), freshmen Cory Schmidt (T40) and Sam Kloenne (T44) as well incoming freshman Nick Chianello (T17). Wagner was a semi-finalist at last year's Oregon Amateur.
First round leader Byron Patton, 51, saw his scores balloon by 15-strokes finishing at 72-87--159 which was still good enough to tie for 22nd and a trip into match play.
Other notable mid-amateur and senior golfers advancing to the 64-player match play field along with Patton and Winter include Kloenne's father Michael, 50, George Walker, 53 (2007 Oregon Senior Amateur Champion), Jeff Nielson, 43 (the reigning Oregon Mid-Amateur Champion), Brooks Newsom, 39 (the 2007 Oregon Men's Stroke Play Champion), 1997 Amateur Champion, Scott Hval, 48, and 2008 OGA Golfer of the Year Jim Dunlap, 37, of Tigard, Ore. The oldest person to advance is Brad Skreen, 54, the 2006 Oregon Amateur runner-up.
Match play commences tomorrow at 7:30am with the Women's field, followed by the Men at 9:46am.
The Oregon Amateur, considered the "major" amateur golf in the region, is also one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting competitions in the state featuring of the best amateur golfers in the region. To be eligible, a player must be an amateur golfer with a USGA Handicap Index of 3.4 or less. Three qualifiers were held to select the players to advance to the tournament proper.
While many state Championships have become stroke play competitions, the Oregon Amateur, remains true to its roots playing the same traditional match play format that's used to this day to determine the best amateur champions even at the national level. It's also one of the few men's and women's amateurs held concurrently, always played at the same time at the same site. Started in 1904, this year's event will be its 100th occurrence. The only years it was not held was during World Wars I and II.