May Tournaments and news:

Winners of NW Championships get invite to USGA events

For the amateur player, the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur are considered to be the most difficult of the USGA’s national championships to get in to. And qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior is no easy task either.

There are so many good young players, and so few spots available in the championships proper. And the qualifying process often feels like a one-in-a-million chance, with typically a full field of local golfers playing one or two rounds in a day, all competing for just one, two or maybe three available spots.

Well, starting this year, there is good news for those on their quest.

The champions of several of the Northwest’s championships will now be exempted into the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur or U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Along with having their name engraved on a trophy as a state or regional amateur champion, each champion will now earn an exemption into their respective USGA national championship.

The respective championships conducted by the region’s Associations are now deemed an official USGA Exemption Event – win it, and you’re in it.

Tickets available for KPMG Championship

One of the five Major Championships on the LPGA Tour is returning to the Pacific Northwest as Sahalee Country Club will host the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on June 20-23. This marks the second time the Championship will be held at Sahalee Country Club having previously hosted the Championship in 2016 where a then-18-year old Brooke Henderson beat Lydia Ko in a playoff for her first Major victory in winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

There are a variety of ways to attend the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Daily ground tickets for Thursday, June 20th through Sunday, June 23rd start as low as $40, with flex tickets good for any one (1) day of the Championship priced at $50. Qualifying military and juniors (15 and under) receive complimentary access to the Championship. 

For more information on the tournament, and to purchase tickets, visit www.kpmgwomenspga.com.

Royal Oaks professional claims Senior Players Championship

PGA Professional Scott Leritz of Royal Oaks CC (Vancouver, WA) won the 2024 Senior Players’ Championship in a playoff  at Wine Valley GC shooting a 4-under par 140 for the two day championship. 

Leritz won in a playoff against Ryan Malby of Kalispel, MT and PGA Professional Tom Sovay of The GC at Redmond Ridge (Redmond, WA)

Low amateur honors went to Gregg Guernsey of Royal Oaks CC who finished one back of the champion at -3 under par.

WA Golf sets championship dates

WA Golf has set the dates for its 2024 championships. Registration for all of the events are now open. Here is a look at what WA Golf has to offer for the 2024 golf season:

    • Champion of Champions April 25-26 at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

    • Women’s Four-Ball set for Skagit Golf and Country Club May 6-7.

    • Men’s Four-Ball and Senior men’s Four-Ball at Loomis Trail Golf Club in Bellingham May 23-24.

    • Senior and Super Senior Men’s Amateur at Yakima Country Club June 4-6.

    • Women’s Mid-Am and Women’s Am at Whidbey Golf Club June 18-20.

    • Men’s Amateur at The Links at Moses Pointe June 25-27.

    • Men’s Mid-Amateur at Desert Canyon Golf Resort on July 23-25.

    • Parent-Child at Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club in Union, Wash. on July 29.

    • Mixed Chapman at Port Ludlow Golf Course on Aug. 2.     

    • Senior Women and Super Senior Amateur at The Cedars at Dungeness Aug. 20-21.

Section major schedule is set

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA has set its schedule for the 2024 golf season.

The Washington Open Invitational will kick off the major season at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent May 20-22. The Pelzer Oregon Open is next on the schedule and set for June 11-13 at Brasada Canyons in Central Oregon. The Rosauers Invitational will take place July 1-21 at Indian Canyon in Spokane while the Northwest Open will wrap up the schedule Aug. 19-21 at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

First Tee Chambers Bay Solstice

On June 23, 2024, First Tee of Greater Seattle will conduct its 5th Annual Chambers Bay Solstice, a fundraiser for the First Tee chapter. Play up to 72 holes from dawn to dusk at Chambers Bay. For more information about this fundraising event see www.chambersbaysolstice.com or visit the first tee for more information.