West Linn golfer claims Sahalee title

In a pressure-packed final round that was a see-saw battle until the end, 2017 PNGA Player of the Year Cole Madey of West Linn, Ore. held off a fierce challenge from Australian Nathan Barbieri to claim the title in the 24th Sahalee Players Championship, held at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

Madey began the day with a one-shot lead over Barbieri, and the two were paired in the final group of today’s final round of the 72-hole championship.

On the final hole, both hit strong drives of nearly 300 yards on the uphill, 535-yard par-5 18th. But Madey closed the deal with a stunning 245-yard 4-iron to within 12 feet, while Barbieri’s approach caught one of the towering trees that line Sahalee Country Club and fell short of the green. Madey narrowly missed the eagle putt but clinched the victory with a tap-in birdie when Barbieri missed his 15-footer for birdie. Madey and Barbieri would both close with an even-par 72.

The 2017 Oregon Amateur champion and UCLA standout led the elite invitational championship, featuring some of the top college and junior amateur players from around the world, from wire to wire, finishing with a four-day total of seven-under-par 281. Madey had finished tied for ninth in last year’s Sahalee Players Championship.

Madey joins an elite list of players engraved on the Paul Runyan Trophy, awarded to winners of the Sahalee Players Championship, including Ryan Moore, Kyle Stanley, Peter Uihlein, Daniel Summerhays and other PGA Tour members.