PO Box 4306, Helena MT 59604-4306 (406) 458-3359 August 2018 - Volume 8, Issue 8

Johnston Rolls to Men’s State Amateur VictoryNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

The oldest country club in Montana holds up well in competi-tion with scores at or near par, and usually in contention. This year looked similarly except for one exception: Ryggs Johnston was competing at a different level altogether.

The Libby product, who has too many junior golf victories to list, added arguably his most prestigious title with a victory at the 101st Montana State Amateur Champi-onship. Johnston, a three-time state high school champion, is heading into his senior year at Libby High School and has already committed to Arizona State University for fall of 2019.

Johnston opened with 68, one shot from the lead, but the 18-year old put his game into another gear in round two with 10 birdies and posting 62 (-8), and creating a sizable, seven shot cushion going into the final round. A ho-hum 67 with one bogey closed out the tournament for Johnston at -13, eight shots better than runner up Joey Lovell of Bozeman, who also shot ...Continued on the next page

August Tournaments

8/1/18Cascade Cnty Jr Tour Championship

Hickory Swing GC (Great Falls)8/2/18 - 8/4/18

Governor’s CupKalispell Area (Buf H, E Bnd, M Lake)

8/2/18 - 8/4/18Hilands Fling

Hilands GC (Billings)8/2/18- 8/19/18

vTour ST. ANDREWS CLASSICRegister at msgavtour.golfnet.com

8/3/182-Man Practice Round

Stillwater GC (Columbus)8/3/18

Montana Rail LinkPryor Creek GC (Huntley)

8/3/18Ron Nistler Educators Memorial

Eaglerock GC (Billings)8/3/18

Society of Petroleum EngineersBriarwood GC (Billings)

8/3/18Stillwater Mine

Laurel GC (Laurel)8/3/18 - 8/4/18

2 Man Best BallPine Meadows GC (Lewistown)

8/4/18Children’s Tumor Foundation Benefit

Eaglerock GC (Billings)8/4/18

Couples 9Hole W/Movie NightIndian Springs Ranch GC (Eureka)

8/4/18Fly Open Scramble

Mission Mountain GC (Ronan)8/4/18 - 8/5/18

2-Man TournamentStillwater GC (Columbus)

Ryggs Johnston

O’Neil, Smith Capture Women’s State & Senior AmsNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

Soon-to-be junior Morgan O’Neil of Rocky Mountain Col-lege displayed tournament grit as the Laurel native, who began the final round with a one-shot advantage, was able to overcome a difficult start and eventually come out on top. O’Neil faced a one-shot deficit with four holes remaining to win her first Montana State Women’s Amateur Title.

O’Neil and Bozeman High’s Annika Danenhauer jostled for position atop a crowded leaderboard, but ultimately O’Neil managed to string three consecutive pars on holes 15-17, bogeyed the 18th, and won by two over Danenhauer. O’Neil shot 76-70-77, 223, for her three rounds. Danenhauer fin-ished her tournament with 71-76-78, 225.

Former champion and University of Montana golfer, Teigan Avery, shot 226 and tied with ...Continued on the page 3

Morgan O’Neil

Jo Smith

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8/4/18 - 8/5/18Club ChampionshipLaurel GC (Laurel)

8/4/18 - 8/5/18MLCC Club Championships

Meadow Lark CC (Great Falls)8/4/18 - 8/5/18

Ron Godbout Coca-Cola ClassicButte CC (Butte)

8/4/18 - 8/5/18State 2 Man Best Ball

Eagle Falls GC (Great Falls)8/5/18

Guys and DollsDeer Park GC (Deer Lodge)

8/5/18Montana Highway Patrol

Pine Meadows GC (Lewistown)8/6/18

PNWPGA (WMC) Pro-AmCanyon River GC (Missoula)

8/6/18RMSPGA (YC) Pro-Am

The Powder Horn (Sheridan, WY)8/6/18

Senior InterclubPryor Creek GC (Huntley)

8/6/18Wendy’s A Waiting Child Classic

Yellowstone CC (Billings)8/6/18 - 8/8/18

Montana-Alberta Junior Ryder CupWhitefish Lake GC (Whitefish)

8/7/18RMSPGA (YC) Ladies Pro-Am

Cottonwood Hills GC (Bozeman)8/7/18 - 8/9/18

Men’s State Senior ChampionshipHelena (Bill Rbrts, Fox Rdg, Grn Mdw)

8/8/18Helen Tremper Women’s Invitational

Missoula CC (Missoula)8/8/18

Optimist Tri-Star ChallengeExchange City GC (Billings)

8/10/18Big Huddle

Eaglerock GC (Billings)8/10/18

Night GolfPine Meadows GC (Lewistown)

8/10/18 - 8/12/18ISR Club Championship

Indian Springs Ranch GC (Eureka)8/11/18

Hawaiian OpenBig Sky GC (Big Sky)

8/11/18TCHF

Marias Valley GC (Shelby)

MEN’S AMATEUR ... from previous pagea final round 67 and played brilliantly in his own right with a total of 205 (-5), that in likely any other year would have been enough to win.

The tournament offered warm temperatures, mild wind, and conditions that allowed for good scoring on accurate approach shots. Butte Country Club

features smaller, turtle-shaped greens, making for some challenging up and downs in the short game and sharp breaking putts. While many struggled to match birdies without bogeys, Johnston certainly did not have much trouble as he collected 19 circles on the card and making only six bogeys over the three days.

Lovell made four birdies during his final round en route to his 67. Billings golfer and reigning Mon-tana State Junior Champion, Joey Moore, placed third after shooting 71 on his final round, despite

making four birdies. His 208 total was one better than fellow final-group com-petitor Josh Hedge, also of Billings. Hedge, who won three-consecutive State Amateurs from 2005-2007, shot 72 in his final round.

Tate Tatom of Big Sky and the Air Force Academy made seven birdies en route to 67 and a tie at 210 with Bozeman’s Chris Goldan who shot even-par 70. Garrett Woodin of Laurel and MSU-Billings made six birdies in an even par round of 70 and Billings’ Colton Hudson, whose back nine 31 gave him a 68, to tie Woodin at 211.

Rounding out the top ten was Payton Taylor of Hamilton, who closed with 67 for a 212 total and Sean Benson of Montana Tech and originally of Billings managed four consecutive birdies on holes 10-13, ending with 72 and 214 overall. Defending champi-on, Caleb Stetzner of Anaconda shot 70 and tied 11th at 216 with Missoula’s Sean Ramsbacher, who tees it up for Montana Tech.

Johnston will also have his named etched on another trophy, this time with fellow Libby resident and part-time Johnston caddy, Joe Cielak. Johnston and Cielak combined for the low, two-person team from a golf course/club for rounds 1&2. Cielak was the 2017 MSGA Mid-Amateur Champion. There were 111 players from around the state who competed in the MSGA’s signature tourna-ment of the year. The event is open to amateur players with handicap indexes of 12 and below. Click here for full results.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at Butte Country Club who welcomed the event and competitors with classic Butte hospitality.

DO YOU HAVE A GHIN# or other record outside of the MSGA? If so, we need to link your records, if this hasn’t been done already! With the merge to one network by 2019, this needs to be completed soon to eliminate problems and confusion for both you and anyone searching your record. Just email your information to support@msgagolf.org, and we’ll set you up!

Barnett Cup Winners: Joe Cielak and Ryggs Johnston

Ryggs Johnston and Joey Lovell

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8/11/18Wrestling

Stillwater GC (Columbus)8/11/18 - 8/12/18

MCC Club Champshp (Club Chipper)Missoula CC (Missoula)

8/12/18Alice Open

Pine Meadows GC (Lewistown)8/13/18

PNWPGA (WMC) Pro-Couples ChampDouble Arrow Resort (Seeley Lake)

8/13/18RMSPGA (YC) Pro-AmLake Hills GC (Billings)

8/14/18RMSPGA (YC) Ladies Pro-Am

Lake Hills GC (Billings)8/15/18

Ladies InvitationalAnaconda CC (Anaconda)

8/16/18 - 8/18/18Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship

Whitefish Lake GC (Whitefish)8/17/18

Billings Clinic Women’s ClassicLaurel GC (Laurel)

8/17/18Ram Scramble

Lake Hills GC (Billings)8/17/18 - 8/19/18

Club ChampionshipTrestle Creek GC (St. Regis)

8/18/184 Person Backwards ScrambleSignal Point GC (Fort Benton)

8/18/18Full Moon Open

Yegen GC (Billings)8/18/18

Ladies PronghornLake Hills GC (Billings)

8/18/18Pep Rally

Plentywood GC (Plentywood)8/18/18

Rocky Peterson TournamentIndian Springs Ranch GC (Eureka)

8/18/18Ryder Cup Men’s Tournament

Marian Hills GC (Malta)8/18/18

Ryder Cup Women’s TournamentSunnyside CC (Glasgow)

8/18/18Whackers and Hackers TourneyHickory Swing GC (Great Falls)

8/18/18 - 8/19/18MCC Couples’ ChapmanMissoula CC (Missoula)

WOMEN’S AMATEUR ... from page 1Butte Central’s Tricia Joyce for third. With final round scores trending higher, Great Falls’ Cathie Tronson was able to vault up the leaderboard thanks to a tournament-low round of 69 (-2). Tronson tied with Montana State University’s Coral Schulz of Whitefish at 227 for fifth. Anna DeMars, a teammate of O’Neil’s at Rocky, finished seventh with 231, followed by Jackie Mee of Missoula (232) in eighth, Sydney Rochford of MSU-Billings and Three Forks (234) in ninth, and Emily Garden of Mis-soula, Renae Heisler, and Shealyn Hafer (both golfers at MSU-Billings) all tied for 10th at 237. In all, 29 golfers vied for the state title. Click here for full results.

Another state title was up for grabs at Missoula Country Club as 121 golfers from around the state competed in the Montana State Women’s Senior Amateur. Jo Smith, an MCC member, was able to use some home course knowl-edge and weather a challenging final round to come out ahead by a shot over Bobbie Lacklen of Libby.

Smith, like O’Neil, entered the final round with a one-shot advantage and was able to hold on to her lead, thanks especially to surviving the crucial 16th hole with a par as Lacklen double-bogeyed. Smith has been a mainstay near the top of the leaderboard in previous senior amateurs, with a second and third on her resume, but a victory at her home course was a great way to collect a trophy in front of friends.

Smith opened with rounds of 80-80-85, for a winning score of 245. Lacklen, the runner up, shot 79-82-85, 246. Julia Jones (Missoula) placed third with 248, followed by Vicki Lucas (Polson) at 249 for fourth, and Julie Embleton (Hamilton) at 252 in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Lisa Forsberg (Billings) in sixth (253), Marianne Nelson in seventh (258), Helene Michael in eighth (261), Laura Wilson (Billings) in ninth (262), and Susan Toder (Missoula), Carol Van Valken-burg (Missoula), and Karen Jacobson (Laurel) tied for tenth at 265. Click here for full results.

The following awards were presented on Friday night of the tournament: Chris Nowlen, MSGA Paul Allen Award; Toni Bickford and Maggie Crippen, MSW-GA Hall of Fame Awards; and Brooklyn Olson, Kinsey Irvin, Tierney Messmer, and Kaelyn Volk, MSWGA Scholarships.

A hearty thank you to Missoula Country Club for the hospitality and for being great state amateur host venue for the second year in a row (Men’s in 2017).

Chris Nowlen, MSWGA Paul Allen Award

Maggie Crippen,MSGA Hall of Fame

Toni Bickford,MSGA Hall of Fame

Brooklyn Olson, Kinsey Irvin, Scholarship winners

Congratulations to our NEWEST WINNERS!JULY’S DRAWING:

Mexican Riviera Cruise - Allan Barth, Baker$200 cash - Bennett MacIntyre, Helena

** AUGUST’S TRIP PRIZE is to Kauai, Hawaii **

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8/19/18Men’s Club Championship Tourn.

Marian Hills GC (Malta)8/19/18

St. Thomas ChurchPryor Creek GC (Huntley)

8/20/18PNWPGA (WMC) Pro-Am

Meadow Lark CC (Great Falls)8/20/18

Senior Interclub SNOFOGEaglerock GC (Billings)

8/23/18Devon Moe Junior Tourney

Pine Meadows GC (Lewistown)8/23/18

MNLA Fall Tour ScrambleBriarwood GC (Billings)

8/23/18 - 9/9/18vTour PRESTWICK CHAMPIONSHIPRegister at msgavtour.golfnet.com

8/24/18Billings Clinic Classic

Briarwood GC (Billings)8/24/18

Billings Clinic ClassicLaurel GC (Laurel)

8/24/18CTA Fall Classic

Eaglerock GC (Billings)8/24/18

Diamond To Fairway ScrambleBridger Creek GC (Bozeman)

8/24/18Night Flight Tourney

Trestle Creek GC (St. Regis)8/24/18

Wear Your College ColorsDeer Park GC (Deer Lodge)

8/24/18 - 8/26/18Beaverhead SR 2 Person Open

Beaverhead GC (Dillon)8/25/18

First State Bank & Ezzies WholesaleMarian Hills GC (Malta)

8/25/18 - 8/26/18Big Sky Open/Club Championship

Big Sky GC (Big Sky)8/25/18 - 8/26/18

Club ChampionshipStillwater GC (Columbus)

8/25/18 - 8/26/18Passholder ChampionshipOld Works GC (Anaconda)

8/25/18 - 8/26/18Women’s County Am

Laurel GC (Laurel)8/26/18

Club ChampionshipPolson Bay GC (Polson)

Team Colorado Wins Boys Junior America’s Cup - Montana Hosts at Fairmont ResortNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

Congratulations to our newest Ace Club Members!

Did you get a hole-in-one? Go to www.msgagolf.org to see how to get your MSGA Hole-in-One Certificate!

Bill Widaman, 7/23/18, Meadow Lark CC, Hole #16, 190 yds, 6 Iron Justin Walsh, 7/22/18, Green Meadow CC, Hole #15, 171 yds, 8 Iron Randall Cote, 7/20/18, Indian Spgs Ranch GC, Hole #15, 105 yds, Pitching Wdg Scott Dimke, 7/19/18, Meadow Lark CC, Hole #16, 187 yds, 5 Iron Marina Ramias, 7/18/18, Village Greens GC, Hole #11, 94 yds, Pitching Wdg Dean Victora, 7/10/18, Laurel GC, Hole #17, 178 yds, 3 Rescue Kyle Sheppard, 7/1/18, Prairie Farms GC, Hole #13, 175 yds, 7 Iron Justin French, 6/6/18, Prairie Farms GC, Hole #4, 150 yds, 5 Iron Doug Sheppard, 5/23/18, Prairie Farms GC, Hole #4, 155 yds, 6 Iron Chris Ryan, 9/6/17, Yellowstone CC, Hole #13, 174 yds, 8 Iron Dennis Robinson, 6/23/15, Pine Meadows GC, Hole #6, 143 yds, 8 Iron

The 46th annual Boys Junior America’s Cup showcased fantastic junior golfers from the western side of the continent as 18 teams competed at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course in Anaconda.

After three days of play, four-player teams from the United States, Canada, and Mexico vied for bragging rights and a trophy. Each team score was the best three scores from each day.

When the final scores were tallied, Team Colorado edged out Mexico by one shot and Utah by three strokes. Colorado was led by Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who was the overall

medalist with a sterling performance of 64-68-68, 200. Stewart was an incred-ible 16-under-par for the tournament.

Team Montana was five shots off of the top ten, finishing in 12th at 657. Joey Moore and Jace Rhodes of Billings and JR Small and Justus Verge of Bozeman competed for Team Mon-tana. Moore, who will head south to play collegiately this fall at San Diego State University, was the low scorer for all three days with rounds of 69-71-71, 211 (-5). Moore finished 13th overall. Verge, who will be a freshman at Bozeman High School, shot 75-75-72, 222. Small, also at Bozeman High shot 71-77-76, 224, and Rhodes posted 78-78-81, 237 for the tournament. Click here for full results.

Montana played host to the championships and now will wait likely 18 years for the next rotation cycle. Many thanks go out to the staff of Fairmont Golf Course, volunteers, and tournament organizer and Montana Captain, Sparkey McLean of Anaconda, for hosting this prestigious event.

Captain Sparkey McLean, Justus Verge, JR Small, Jace Rhodes, Joey Moore, Captain Joe Rossman

Team Montana

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8/26/18Worlds Toughest

Canyon River GC (Missoula)8/27/18

PNWPGA (WMC) Pro-AmNorthern Pines GC (Kalispell)

8/27/18 - 8/28/18Yellowstone County Seniors

Eaglerock GC (Billings)8/31/18 - 9/3/18AJGA Qualifier

Big Sky GC (Big Sky)

Montana Competes in Girls Junior America’s CupNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

The Girls Junior America’s Cup took place at Hiwan Golf Course in Evergreen, Colorado. MSGA Boatwright Intern, Lauren (Hausauer) Nielson captained Team Montana as the girls headed south to compete with 17 other teams from the continent.

Team Mexico was victorious with a team total of +12 for three days of competition. They won by 11 shots over Southern Cali-fornia. Washington was third. Cory Lopez was +2 for the championship to win medal-ist honors by one shot over Serena Sepersky (+3) of Southern California. Maria Fern-anda Martinez and Maria Alejandra Ferrer, both of Mexico, tied for third at +6.

Team Montana was 17th overall. Repre-senting the Treasure State were: Kylie Esh of Missoula, Kameryn Basye and Laurel Ward of Bozeman, and Tierney Messmer of Sidney. Esh, who will compete for the University of Montana this fall, closed out her junior career as the low scorer all three days with rounds of 80-75-77, 232 (+22). Esh finished 30th overall. Basye shot 82-78-84, 244; Ward shot 84-87-85, 256; and Messmer shot 92-87-88, 267. Click here for full results.

Montana will host the 2021 Girls Junior America’s Cup.

Royal Dornoch OpenPLAYER PRIZES:

Robin Allen, Whitefish Lake GCMike Richards, Deer Park GCSteve Corn, The Ranch ClubRick Chin, Bridger Creek GC

Jay Anderson, Green Meadow CCDan Gaughan, Bill Roberts GC

Tim Casey, Laurel GCSean Pahut, Meadow Lark CC

Tim Keating, Laurel GCJeff Blessum, Valley View GC

Tess Lind, Larchmont GCMardi Millons, Bill Roberts GC

Linda Lindsay, Green Meadows CCKaren Holmes, Village Greens GC

Dianne Gleason, Livingston CCKristal Lemke, Larchmont GC

Louise Cholette-Haley, Eagle Bend GC

Castle Stuart StandoffPLAYER PRIZES:

Ken Bailey, Bill Roberts GCTroy Stiles, Yellowstone CCKeith Ori, Buffalo Hill GC

Jerry Fisher, Polson Bay GCBrett Markovich, Larchmont GC

James Murphy, Laurel GCJustin Sullivan, Canyon River GCColton Oppelt, Bridger Creek GC

Ernie Pawliw, Yegen GCKyle Armstrong, Briarwood GC

Emily Garden, Missoula CCKathie Allen, Cottonwood Hills GCMary Bryson, Green Meadow CC

Tracy Paine, Cottonwood Hills GCPam Kaufman, Lake Hills GCPam Alfred, Meadow Lark CCRobin Heringer, Hamilton GC

REGISTER NOW!

Laurel Ward, Tierney Messmer, Kameryn Basye, Kylie Esh, Captain Lauren Nielson

Montanans Advance in Drive, Chip, and PuttNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

Canyon River Golf Club in Missoula hosted the local qualifier for the nationwide junior golf skills competition, Drive, Chip, and Putt. With four age brackets for female and male golfers, several Montana junior competitors advanced to the subregional competi-tion to be held at Tumble Creek Golf Club in Cle Elum, Washing-

ton, on August 13th. Successful competitors at the subregional event will move to regional play and the championships will be contested at the 2019 Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

Montana girls who qualified include:Ages 7-9: Elle Dee (Bozeman), Charlotte Dale (Missoula) Ages 10-11: Cate Leydig (Big Sky), Camille Poncin (Pray)Ages 12-13: Dakota Wilson (Townsend), Pavin Coleman (Billings), Katie Lewis (Missoula)Ages 14-15: Emma Woods (Fairfield), T.J. Nordahl (Big Sky), Sarah Halferty (Helena)

Montana boys who qualified include:Ages 7-9: Maxwell Milton (Polson)Ages 10-11: John Gilbert (Helena), Drew Brown (Helena)Ages 12-13: Torrin Ellis (Ronan), Alex Haus mann (Kalispell)Ages 14-15: Joseph Opitz (Missoula)

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Men’s Mid AmateurAugust 16-18 - Whitefish

Deadline: August 9th

Want to see something in the newsletter?Contact Nick Dietzen at:

nick@msgagolf.org(406) 459-3459

Patrick Murphy Claims U.S. Amateur SpotNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

No rest for the victorious as newly minted Montana State Amateur champion, Ryggs Johnston, traveled from Butte to Missoula to vie for a spot in the 2018 U.S. Amateur. But Johnston was bested in a three-hole playoff at The Ranch Club by Calgary’s Patrick Murphy.

The 36-hole qualifier had the feel of a Pac-12 duel as Murphy, a UCLA senior, and Johnston, an Arizona State commit for fall 2019, needed extra holes to decide the victor. Murphy birdied the opening hole, but did not have the lead until the final putt was holed. Both players were five-under-par through 36 holes, finishing three ahead of third-place Joey Moore of Billings who was also under-par at -2. Johnston had opportunities on the first two playoff holes for birdie, but it was Murphy who made par-saving putts on both holes to extend the match that ultimately came out on top as he parred the third playoff hole (hole 18) and Johnston made bogey.

Whitefish’s Mark Mance and Billings’ Garrett Woodin shot even par for the 36 holes to tie for fourth. Johnston has been added to the field after qualifying as an alternate. Click here for full results. This year’s U.S. Amateur will be played at Pebble Beach in California next month.

Ryggs Johnston andPatrick Murphy

Acharya Impresses in Fourth of July Tournament WinNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

Former touring professional and Columbus native, Jasi Acharya (now of Carver, MN), put together an impressive wire-to-wire victory at the 82nd Annual Earl Hunt Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. Acharya opened the tournament in dazzling fashion with a course record 63 (-8) on the South Course. A four-time Class B state champion

and 2006 Big Sky Conference Medalist at the University of Montana, she was playing in her first tourna-ment since regaining amateur status from the USGA.

Acharya’s opening round included a 30 on the front nine and featured six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole, good enough to set the South Course Record at 63. She was unable to keep that pace, but closed with rounds of 77 and 76 to finish at 216 (+2), four clear of runner-up Stephanie Hulbert of Magnolia, Texas. Teigan Avery of Kalispell was third with 226, Morgan O’Neil of Laurel was fourth at 230, and Kylie Esh of Missoula was fifth at 233.

On the men’s side, Cory Mehl of Seattle was victorious with a final round 71 (-1) on the North Course to finish at 214. Mehl, a former winner of the event and third-place finisher last year, overcame a nine-shot

deficit to best 36-hole leaders, Logan Lindholm of Kalispell and Andrew Medley of Scottsdale, Arizona -- both competi-tors shot 78 in windy conditions. Conor Rooney of Whitefish and former champion Robb Bergeson of Billings tied for fourth at 217.

In the seniors’ competition, Rich Boswell of Calgary, Alberta, closed with an even-par 72 to finish at 223, good enough to edge out Peter Benson of Billings by one shot. Benson finished with 80 for a 224 total. 2017 Montana State Senior Cham-pion, Brett Bennyhoff of Great Falls, was third at 231, Thomas Shea of Whitefish was fourth at 233, and Sam Saunders of Buckeye, Arizona, was fifth at 235.

Jasi Acharya

Hurlbert Qualifies for U.S. Senior AmateurNick Dietzen, MSGA Communications Director

The 2010 MSGA Mid-Amateur Champion, Craig Hurlbert of Hamilton, has qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oregon, August 25-30. Hurlbert, shot 70 (-2) at Falcon Crest Golf Course in Kuna, Idaho, to earn medalist honors. Hurlbert, currently playing out of Magnolia, Texas, was two better than the next finisher.

Good luck to Craig next month in Eugene!Craig Hurlbert