PNGA crowns champions for men, women at Public Links

Champions were crowned at the 28th Annual Pacific Northwest Men’s and 14th Annual Senior Men’s and Women’s Amateur Public Links Championships conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) at The Links at Moses Pointe. The Men’s Championship title came down to a duel between first round leaders, Stephen Hartnett of Boise, Idaho and Evan Needham of Bellingham, Wash. Needham entered the 18th hole with a 2-stroke lead but made a costly bogey while Hartnett made his 7th birdie of the day to tie for the lead at 7-under par 137. Riding the momentum, Hartnett calmly sank a 3-foot par putt on the first playoff hole to seal the victory.

In the Senior Men’s Championship Bob Christensen of Post Falls, Idaho came from behind to win the Senior Men’s Amateur Public Links Championship. Christensen started the final round 1 shot off the lead and quickly made up the difference on first round leaders Keith Crimp of Ellensburg, Wash. and Rich Evenson of Mercer Island, Wash. by eagling the first hole of the day. In the Women’s Championship 2008 and 2010 Champion, Kate Hildahl of Tualatin, Ore., captured her record tying third PNGA Women’s Amateur Public Links crown after shooting a final round 1-over par bringing her championship winning total to 1-under par 143.