Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

Craig Larson goes wire-to-wire at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

There was little doubt as to who was going to take the trophy this week.

The inaugural Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship had little doubt as to who was going to take the trophy home this week.

Making the five-hour trip to Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, Craig Larson kept the hardware in the Evergreen State.

The Lakeland, Washington, native separated himself from the rest of the senior field through the first 36 holes of the tournament. Building a five-stroke lead heading into Thursday’s final round, all Larson had to do was play the same brand of golf that got him there in the first place.

What changes consistent golf? Pressure.

Luckily for Larson, pressure was never really an issue. Yes, he was 4 over through 13 and finished the day there but his cushion kept his head well above water. A final round 77 isn’t the way you want to close out a championship, but hey, a win is a win is a win, right?

Cruising to a four shot wire-to-wire victory, Larson (2 over) shared the podium with Bradley Karns (6 over) and Doug Savageau (9 over).

In the Super Senior age bracket (ages 65-69), a much tighter contest needed extra holes to determine a winner.

Peter Jennings held a one shot lead over George Walker heading into Thursday’s action. Through the front nine Jennings’ lead was stretched to two thanks to a triple bogey by Walker on the par 4 9th.

With either man unable to push across a birdie, Walker scraped his way back into the fight with a back nine 2 over 38 to force a playoff after making up the halftime deficit.

Unfortunately for Walker, his valiant attempt ended up just short as he fell to Jennings on the second playoff hole. For Jennings, he walks away with 1,200 points towards the year-long race for the Golfweek Player of the Year rankings list and bragging rights over his fellow statesman.

Greg Mokler cruised to a nine-shot win in the Legend Division while Joe Barth enjoyed the same differential in the Super Legend Division. Barth also ties Larson for lowest score throughout the entire field. Despite playing in the 75+ age division, Barth matched Larson at 2 over on the week and going lower than his age every day.

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Craig Larson extends lead at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

The 2022 Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship has just 18 holes remaining.

The 2022 Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship has just 18 holes remaining before crowning its inaugural champions at Wine Valley Golf Club, nestled in the rolling hills of southern Washington, offering a beautiful landscape against a gorgeous background of the Cascade Mountains in Walla Walla, Washington.

Building on his lead from Tuesday’s first round, Craig Larson gained yet another stroke on the field with a 1-under 71 second round. With two double bogeys on his card, Larson hung tough and carded five birdies on the day. Nails down the stretch, Larson closed his round with three birdies on his final four holes to increase his lead to five strokes in the senior division.

Closest to Larson is Bradley Karns, who stayed put with an even par round. While not completely written off, Karns has plenty of work ahead of him if he wants to put pressure on the leader. Behind Karns sits three players in a tie for third at 3 over.

Super senior Peter Jennings overtook overnight leader George Walker, erasing a four shot deficit to take a one shot lead with just 18 holes remaining.

One lone bogey on the day aided by two birdies allowed Jennings to slide by Walker with a 36-hole score of 2 over. Walker was not full of mistakes as he tallied four bogeys that were spaced well throughout the scorecard. Without birdie putts falling, it’s now Walker who will be in chase mode at 3 over.

Lurking at 8 over par is Glen Clark. If he can piece together a solid round, he could make things interesting within the final grouping.

Joe Barth and Greg Mokler are holding down their respective legendary divisions. The duo have matched each other with reciprocating rounds of 71 and 74. Both at 1 over, the duo makes it look easy while shooting their age.

The final round of the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship commences tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. local time, 11 a.m. ET.

Craig Larson paces field at inaugural Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

Four different age divisions are competing in the inaugural Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship.

Four different age divisions have taken center stage at the inaugural Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship. Over the entire field of elite amateurs, it is one man who leads them all.

Craig Larson carded a 2-under 70 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, on Tuesday. The Lakewood, Washington, native is making the most of his near five-hour trek so far.

After a tumultuous opening nine that saw just two pars on the scorecard, Larson settled in nicely on the back nine. With three birdies on Nos. 10, 15 and 18, he was able to erase a front-nine 37 with a bogey-free 33 to take a four-stroke lead over Bradley Karns and Nicholas Bock in the senior division.

Super senior George Walker trails Larson by a single shot but leads the 65-69 year old division by four. Much like Larson, Walker was shaky on the front nine but settled in as he came back towards the clubhouse. Cruising with six pars and three birdies coming in, the Portland, Oregon, native will look to continue his balanced play in Wednesday’s second round.

With contestants ranging in age from 55 to older than 75, scoring was no issue in Tuesday’s first round. A field average of 76.75 was aided in part by Joe Barth. Competing in the super legend division (75+), Barth fired an opening 1-under 71, besting his age by plenty. Barth leads Craig Collins by three strokes as he looks to build on a solid start.

Greg Mokler can officially put the cruise control on despite 36 holes remaining. He leads the Legends division by a whopping 11 strokes after carding a first round 2 over 73.

The second round of the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship commences tomorrow beginning at 8 a.m. local time, 11 a.m. ET.

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