Tag: Wine Valley Golf Club

Doug Hanzel adds another line to his unreal senior golf resume with Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior title

Doug Hanzel’s golf highlights could make up a thick novel, especially as he continues to rack up titles.

Very few boxes remain uncovered on Doug Hanzel’s golf bingo card. While many players have a headline or two to their name – a USGA title here or a state amateur championship there – Hanzel’s highlights could make up a thick novel.

Especially as he continues to rack up titles.

On Thursday, the 67-year-old won the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior title at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington. Hanzel, of Savannah, Georgia, played up into the Senior division (for players aged 55-64) and eventually ran away with the title after three birdies in his final nine holes. He finished 8 under for 54 holes (with rounds of 71-68-69) and five shots ahead of Atlanta resident Jack Larkin, the fifth-ranked senior in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, and Jon Valuck of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scores: Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

Hanzel, who is ranked 12th among seniors in the WAGR, may be best known as the 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur winner, but he also made another run at that title in 2022, finishing runner-up to Rusty Strawn, and won the Canadian Senior Amateur in 2023. Once you start listing the accolades, it’s tough to stop.

Hanzel, who made his living as a pulmonologist, seems ageless on the golf course, and he went a long way in showing that in 2012 when he made history by qualifying for match play in the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Senior Amateur as well as being the low amateur at the U.S. Senior Open.

“I’m 66 but still competitive in senior golf,” Hanzel was widely quoted as saying after his Canadian Senior Am win last fall. “I don’t feel like a super senior, I’m still hitting it far.”

Already in 2024, Hanzel finished third in the John T. Lupton Memorial and seventh in the George L. Coleman Invitation’s Senior division. He started the year third at the Golfweek Player of the Year Classic. Hanzel, who went into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in 2019, told Golfweek he never tees it up without the expectation of winning – a competitive drive that stems from being the youngest of four brothers, all of whom were athletes – and that if he could win anything again, it would be the U.S. Senior Amateur.

At Wine Valley, Hanzel started the week with a bogey on the first hole but didn’t make another one for 41 holes. Even though it was his first time competing in the Pacific Northwest, his pursuers simply couldn’t make enough birdies to keep up in the final round, though Larkin made up significant ground with a birdie on No. 15 and an eagle on the par-5 closing hole.

Notably, a three-man tie for fourth at 2 under included 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur champion Dave Ryan.

Dave Ryan (left) and Doug Hanzel at Wine Valley Golf Club. (Golfweek photo)
Dave Ryan (left) and Doug Hanzel at Wine Valley Golf Club. (Golfweek photo)

In the Super Senior division, Fran Matthias won by a similarly large margin. Rounds of 70-71-74 left the Nampa, Idaho, resident at 1 under for the tournament and nine shots ahead of fellow Pacific Northwesterner Tom Lewis of Cle Elum, Washington. Matthias, who won the Idaho Super Senior Amateur title in 2022 and 2023, put together quite the colorful final-round scorecard. He started birdie-bogey, then logged a double-bogey, eagle and a bogey from Nos. 11-13.

The Legend Division title went to Michael Jonson of Sammamish, Washington, who went 6 under for the week with rounds of 71-69-70. Dan Parkinson of Lehi, Utah, was second at 5 over.

Greg Mokler of Timnath, Colorado, won the Super Legends title at 7 over.

A pair of past U.S. Senior Amateur champions are set for a final-round showdown at Golfweek PNW Senior Amateur

One round remains at Wine Valley Golf Club.

One round remains at the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur and a pair of past U.S. Senior Amateur champions are right where you might expect them to be: at the top of the leaderboard. Doug Hanzel and Dave Ryan are likely to figure heavily into the final 18 holes at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington.

Hanzel leads the Senior division of the Golfweek PNW Amateur after taking full advantage of “moving day” with a 4-under 68. That left him at 5 under for the tournament, and two shots ahead of Ryan and Jon Valuck, who are tied for second. Hanzel had a clean card with four birdies and no bogeys while Ryan bogeyed. Nos. 3 and 6.

Valuck had the lead after the first round and for most of the day on Wednesday, especially after playing his first 11 holes in 3 under. But a bogey at the par-3 14th and a double bogey at the par-5 18th hurt, dropping him into the tie with Ryan.

Scores: Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur

Hanzel, of Savannah, Georgia, won his U.S. Senior Amateur title in 2013 but came close to winning another one in 2022 before falling to Rusty Strawn in the championship match. Ryan, of Taylorville, Illinois, prevailed in 2016 over Matthew Sughrue when the championship was played in nearby St. Louis.

Dave Ryan at the 2010 USGA Senior Amateur.

Interestingly, there’s another U.S. Senior Amateur contender in the field in Pat O’Donnell, who had the first-round lead in the Super Senior division but now trails leader Fran Matthias by a shot. O’Donnell, an Oregon native who was inducted in the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2022, backed up an opening 67 with a 75 on Wednesday to fall a shot behind Matthias, of Nampa, Idaho.

O’Donnell lost to Hanzel in the 2013 U.S. Amateur final.

Michael Jonson of Sammamish, Washington, grew his lead from one shot to nine shots in the Legends division. With rounds of 71-69, he is 4 under and leads Greg Tatham and Dan Parkinson, who are both at 5 over.

The Super Legends division lead belongs to Greg Mokler of Timnath, Colorado, who is 5 over after rounds of 75-74. Stephen Wilson of Solana Beach, California, is next at 14 over.

Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship headed to Wine Valley GC on the heels of PNGA Men’s Amateur

Days after the best college players clear out of Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, the top seniors move in.

Days after the best college players clear out of Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, the top seniors move in. Tyler Sweet, Director of Golf at Wine Valley, praises the golf course’s versatility, and that will be particularly apparent in the two-week stretch encompassing the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Men’s Amateur and the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur.

“It’s such a great layout,” Sweet said of the golf course. “You can do so many different things with it.”

Wine Valley, which opened in 2009, has twice before hosted the PNGA Amateur, a top-50 event in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (based on strength of field) that is filled with Division I college players. The course also frequently hosts U.S. Golf Association qualifiers and Washington state amateur and open championships.

On July 16-18, Wine Valley will host the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur for the third time. Players will compete across four divisions: Senior (age 55-64), Super Senior (Age 65-69), Legends (age 70-74) and Super Legends (age 75 and over).

Wine Valley is a Dan Hixson design nestled into the Blue Mountains in Central Washington. It is ranked No. 3 in the state of Washington on the Golfweek’s Best Public Courses list and also appears on the Golfweek’s Best Top 200 Modern Courses list.

Sweet goes back to the panoramic mountain views.

“They did not move much dirt to build this golf course,” he said. “You’ve got rolling hills through there, it used to be farm fields – whether it was hay fields or alfalfa fields. Just a rolling golf course. It’s just so natural that people just want to come play.”

Picturesque though it may be, Wine Valley has teeth, and players generally feel them around the greens. The course features exceptionally large greens – some as deep as 40 to 50 yards from front to back – which can mean a several club difference depending on hole location (of which there are many). Sweet calls the greenside bunkering rugged and natural and notes that “if you short-side yourself in a bunker, you’re really going to have to work to make par.”

A strong Senior division field includes Kevin VandenBerg of Syracuse, New York, who claimed last year’s Golfweek Senior Player of the Year honors. Jack Larkin, the No. 3-ranked senior in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is also in the field. So is Doug Hanzel, also among the top 10 seniors in the WAGR and winner of the 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur.

The Senior division also includes Jim Pliska, owner of Wine Valley Golf Club. Pliska, who also owns Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Oregon, has built his career in the golf business while also keeping his game sharp. Pliska played for the University of Oregon in the 1970s, and continues to compete in Oregon Golf Association events. He won the OGA Tournament of Champions in 1986,1988 and 2000.

Jim Starnes, the top-ranked player in Golfweek’s Super Senior Rankings, highlights the Super Senior field. Starnes, of Ft. Myers, Florida, won the Florida Azalea Senior earlier in the year and tied for second at the Golfweek Senior Amateur at Desert Willow in Palm Desert, California.

Golfweek top-25 player Dan Parkinson of Lehi, Utah, is among the Legends field.

Bradley Karns seals local win, Scott Masingill goes wire-to-wire at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

The 2023 Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur had everything you could ask for as a golf fan. A winner chasing records; a sweaty, down-to-the-wire finish; and four new champions were crowned this week at Wine Valley Golf in Walla Walla, …

The 2023 Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur had everything you could ask for as a golf fan. A winner chasing records; a sweaty, down-to-the-wire finish; and four new champions were crowned this week at Wine Valley Golf in Walla Walla, Washington.

Seniors (55-64)

Bradley Karns began Wednesday’s final round three shots back of the leader, Jon Lindstrom.

With over 275 rounds recorded, a 2016 Washington State Senior Amateur win and a runner-up finish in last year’s event all at Wine Valley, Karns felt confident in his abilities to get the job done.

“When you get to this age and you’re kind of in the mix a little bit, playing in tournaments,” Karns told Golfweek. “You just kind of [put your] head down and continue to grind.”

Lindstrom struggled towards the back half of the front nine, carding a front nine 38 and dropping two strokes to Karns as they made the turn. With a birdie on the par 3 11th, Karns moved his way into a tie for the lead, setting up a shootout over the final seven holes.

Lindstrom regained the lead with a birdie on No. 13 only to relinquish the lead on No. 16 with a bogey.

Karns would get his first solo lead of the tournament on No. 17 thanks to another bogey from Lindstrom. Using his local knowledge, the three-time U.S. Senior Am qualifier made easy work of the par 5 18th, taking his first Golfweek Senior Amateur win by one stroke over Lindstrom.

“I’ve played enough and competed against high-level players, that I feel very comfortable when I go tee it up,” he said. “So, I just try to put my head down and keep grinding away… There’s some really good players around the Pacific Northwest and I’m just trying to fit in is all I’m trying to do.”

For Lindstrom, his runner-up finish will move him inside the top 5 of the Golfweek Senior Amateur rankings. Previously 6th in the rankings coming into the week, Lindstrom benefits two-fold as the top 5 players were not in the field.

Super Seniors (65-69)

With a 16-stroke lead heading into the final round, the only question remaining for Scott Masingill was not if he was going to win, but by how many.

“Yesterday, we talked about confidence,” Masingill told Golfweek. “You know, you can be too confident and think ‘I don’t really have to concentrate.”

No matter how experienced you are or how well you may be playing, golf has a funny way of humbling you.

Masingill had a tap in left for par on the par-4 9th. Sweeping it into the hole, it lipped out and resulted in a bogey for the 1971 Pac-8 conference champion (1971, Oregon State). Closing the championship with a 3-over 75, Masingill had wise words that everyone can benefit from:

“There’s the right amount of confidence and there’s the right amount of intensity. You can’t try too hard and you can’t assume that you’re such a good player that you can just go out and play and everything will work out, because it won’t.”

Despite the uncharacteristic day, Masingill closes the week at Wine Valley with the best score to par across the entire field at 7 under 209 and a 17-stroke win in the Super Senior division. Not too shabby for the 72-year-old Idaho legend.

Dan Parkinson (10 over) and Frank Maxwell (12 over) rounded out the podium spots.

Legends (70-74)

Michael Jonson retained his 36-hole lead, taking the Legend division crown with a 10 over 226. Greg Tatham (12 over) takes runner-up honors.

Super Legends (75+)

Oklahoma’s Craig Collins (10 over) takes the 75-and-up division crown. Three straight sub-80 rounds of golf gave him a one-shot victory over No. 2 ranked Bill Engel. Tightly contested, the top six finishers in the Super Legends bracket were separated by just six shots.

The Golfweek Senior Amateur Series tees off yet again next week, this time just outside of Atlanta, Georgia for the Golfweek International Senior Invitational at Cartersville Country Club in Cartersville, Georgia.

Coverage for the event will begin on Tuesday, October 3.

Scott Masingell continues domination at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

“Every once in a while you’ll hit a streak where you just don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself.”

Round 1 Super Senior division leader Scott Masingell came into the week just looking to post three rounds around 70. The 72-year-old from Idaho made the quick trip to Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, to test his game. He didn’t think he would dominate the way he has.

“Every once in a while you’ll hit a streak where you just don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself,” Masingell said. “And that’s where I am right now.”

A 2004 Pacific NW Golf Association Hall of Fame inductee, Masingell has not only lapped the field. He has lapped them nearly three times.

Following his opening round 65 with a 3-under 69 on Tuesday, Masingell holds a commanding 16-stroke lead on the rest of the Super Senior age bracket, currently sitting at 10 under.

“The confidence has built,” he said. “I’ve been able to clear my mind and build on that confidence. It was a good day, and I didn’t get everything out of my round today like I did yesterday. There was no stress and I could’ve been lower, but anyway, it’s great.”

With just one bogey through 36 holes of play, Masingell has only his game and the course between him and the trophy. 

Utah’s Dan Parkinson and Louisiana’s Frank Maxwell round out the podium through two rounds at 6 over and 7 over, respectively.

Seniors (55-64)

Trailing overnight leader Jerry Gunthorpe by one shot heading into Tuesday’s second round, Jon Lindstrom set out to make a move on moving day.

Executing his plan to near perfection, Lindstrom followed up his Monday 68 with a 3-under 69 on Tuesday. Starting his day on the back nine, Lindstrom made the turn at 1 under before lighting up hole Nos. 1-4 with a trio of birdies.

A bogey on the par-3 sixth ended his 27-hole bogey-free streak, but nonetheless, the Denver native takes a three-shot advantage into Wednesday’s final round. 

Bradley Karns stayed stagnant with an even-par 72 to remain in second place at 4 under. Jon Brown lurks in third place at 2 under with a pair of 71s. Kevin VandenBerg, Kevin Sullivan, Tom Brandes and Jerry Gunthorpe share fourth place at 1 under.

Legends (70-74)

Michael Jonson (6 over) vaulted first-round leader Kerry Booth (9 over) with a second-round 73. Greg Tatham (10 over) and Bruce Meyer (18 over) round out the division.

Super Legends (75+)

Greg Mokler (2 over) overtakes the top spot in the Super Legends division with a 72. Wayne Peddy (5 over), Craig Collins (6 over), Henry Cole (7 over), Bill Engel and Larry Dodds (8 over) all look to apply pressure in Wednesday’s final round.

Scott Masingill, Jerry Gunthorpe go low at Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Championship

The Golfweek senior amateur circuit has made its annual stop in Wine Country.

The Golfweek senior amateur circuit has made its annual stop in Wine Country.

Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington is a stunning Dan Hixson design that perfectly uses the natural features of southeastern Washington in the shadow of the Blue Mountains. With open fairways and rarely a tree in sight, the course plays tough thanks to wild grasses, undulating greens and strategic bunkering, Wine Valley is one of the best tests of golf in the Pacific Northwest.

Two men were able to use those features to their advantage to take leads in their respective age divisions. 

Super Seniors (65-69)

72-year-old Scott Masingill had the round of the day, posting a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take an eight-stroke lead in the Super Senior age bracket.

“I’ve played this golf course quite a bit,” Masingell said. “And it’s really one of my favorite courses of anywhere that I’ve played. In about the past two months, my game has come around, and it’s really just about confidence now.”

The Idaho native has plenty to be confident about. Starting his scoring early, Masingell carded four birdies through his first seven holes. Keeping it on cruise control, he parred the next seven holes before adding three consecutive birdies on hole Nos. 15-17. Needing to knock home a 4-footer on 18 for par to keep his bogey-free round in check, Masingell found the bottom of the cup.

“I got a little nervous and sweaty on the last hole,” he said. “I was proud of the fact that feeling some stress on that last putt, I just knocked it in the middle of the hole. I’m real pleased with the way I played, I’ve been working on my fitness and my game, and I got a result.”

Masingill is not a stranger to playing with the best. With a U.S. Open, two Senior Opens, a U.S. Am and two U.S. Mid-Ams under his belt, he’s no stranger to being in the mix with elite golfers.

As for how he’ll take on the next 36 holes?

“With a big lead like this, I’m really just competing with myself at the moment. So, just not getting distracted by that and [focus] on the cliche of all time, playing one shot at a time. That’s the only way to do it.”

George Walker (No. 1 in the Golfweek Super Senior rankings) and Frank Maxwell are in a two-way tie for second at 1 over.

Seniors (55-64)

In the senior division, Michigan’s Jerry Gunthrope leads the way thanks to his opening round of 5-under 65.  His week began on the wrong foot, as his driver shaft was snapped on his flight out to the West Coast.

Finding a similar shaft at a store 45 minutes from the course, Gunthorpe was able to put the driver in play Monday but still didn’t feel 100 percent comfortable with it throughout the day. Relying on a driving iron and his woods for the most part, Gunthorpe’s wedges made up for the rest.

“I had a lot of wedges,” Gunthorpe said. “I hit a lot of really good wedges so that’s where I made a lot of birdies.”

Not completely satisfied with his game, Gunthorpe looks to improve on his par 5 scoring as well as his tee and approach shots. If the Michigander can get those facets of his game to lock in, it could be a long week for the rest of the field.

He takes a one-shot lead into Tuesday’s round, as Bradley Karns and Jon Lindstrom look to keep their play rolling with matching 68s. Seven more golfers are at par or better.

Legends (70-74)

Kerry Booth (+4) holds a two-stroke lead over Greg Tatham.

Super Legends (75+)

Bill Engel posted an even par round and commands a two-shot lead over Greg Mokler.

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.

If you are interested in competing, go to Golfweek Events.

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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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