WALLA WALLA - PGA professional Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Wash., won the Northwest Open Invitational Wednesday after firing a 6-under-par 66 in the final round for a three-day total of 12-under-par 204.
The event was at the par-72 links-style Wine Valley Golf Club course off Frenchtown Road, west of Walla Walla.
Thornton won by one stroke over professional Brandon Kearney of Bend Golf and Country Club in Bend, Ore., and amateur Michael Haack of Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent, Wash.
This is Thornton's third major. He had previously won the 2007 PGA Professional Championship and 2009 Washington Open Invitational.
Thornton was four strokes behind Dan Whitaker, an amateur from Ellenburg, and Kearney, and two back of Haack, headed into Wednesday's final round.
Kearney ended up 68-66-71-205, and Haack 68-68-69-205.
Whitaker finished fourth at 68-66-72-206.
Wine Valley assistant pro Elijah Perkins was the highest local finisher, tying for 10th at 69-74-69-212. Perkins finished tied with four other golfers, including former Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher Erik Hanson, an amateur out of Sahalee Country Club near Seattle.
Walla Walla Country Club assistant pro Brady Sharp tied with three others for 19th at 73-70-72-215.
Walla Walla amateur Jim Pliska, who plays out of Wine Valley, finished in a seven-way tie for 31st at 73-74-71-218.
Veterans Memorial amateur Jeff Neher ended in a three-way tie for 64th at 77-71-77-225.
Thornton won $6,000 for the victory.
Northwest Open leaders
Brian Thornton, Kent, Wash. 70-68-66-204
Brandon Kearney, Bend, Ore. 68-66-71-205
Michael Haack (a), Kent, Wash. 68-68-69-205
Dan Whitaker (a), Ellensburg 68-66-72-206
Rob Gibbons, Molalla, Ore. 68-69-71-208
Jeff Bender, Kennewick 71-66-72-209
Jason Aichele, Richland 66-72-71-209
Derek Berg (a), Bellevue 74-68-67-209
Josh Immordino, Kent 72-69-69-210
Tyler Wong, Bellingham 72-71-69-212
Elijah Perkins, Walla Walla 69-74-69-212
Erik Hanson (a), Seattle 71-72-69-212
Bob Rannow, Florence, Ore. 71-70-71-212
Ryan Malby, Kalispell, Mont. 73-69-70-212
Cameron Whittle (a), ML 70-70-73-213
Rob Clark, Wenatchee 70-69-74-213
Sean Arey, Corvallis 76-69-69-214
Gordon Corder, Spokane 72-66-76-214
Corey Prugh, Spokane 74-69-72-215
Brady Sharp, Walla Walla 73-70-72-215
Casey McCoy, The Dalles 73-68-74-215
David Bobillot, M.V., Wash. 74-73-68-215
Michael Kloenne (a), Portand 70-73-73-216
Joey Hord (a), Portland 76-69-71-216
Chris Griffin, Tacoma 69-76-71-216
Adam Syverson, Spokane 73-70-74-217
Scott Krieger, Seattle 70-72-75-217
Greg Smith, Willow Lake 71-74-72-217
Jerry Johnson, Olympia 73-69-75-217
Brent Murray, Lake Oswego 71-70-76-217
Taylor Ferris, Tacoma 77-68-73-218
Josh Gold, Blanchard, Idaho 74-75-69-218
Mark Gardner, Spokane 69-75-74-218
Todd O'Neal, Washougal, Wash. 73-69-76-218
Steve Stull, Kennewick 70-74-74-218
Jesse Sitterud (a), Snoq., Wash. 74-73-71-218
Jim Pliska (a), Walla Walla 73-74-71-218
Louie Runge, Willapa Bay 72-73-74-219
Scott Adams (a), Spokane 74-73-72-219
Steve Prugh, Spokane 78-70-71-219
Brian Nosler, Vancouver, Wash. 76-69-74-219
Ryan Benzel, Marysville 69-76-74-219
Darek Franklin, Salem, Ore. 71-74-74-219
Steve Bowen, DSG 75-74-70-219
Matt Epstein (a), Everett 74-74-71-219
Justin Bos, Sunnyside 72-73-75-220
Brent Wolf, Coeur d' Alene 74-74-72-220
Keith Crimp (a), Ellensburg 73-74-73-220
Paul Pavlos (a), Snoh., Wash. 76-71-73-220
Dan Ostrin, Bend, Ore. 73-74-73-220
Mike O'Keefe (a), Snoq., Wash. 69-75-76-220
Kyle Miller, Bellevue 75-69-77-221
Mike Early, Port Townsend 77-72-72-221
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 73-73-75-221
Bruce Stewart, Molalla, Ore. 75-73-74-222
Brandon Richardson, Eugene 76-74-72-222
Tim McElhinny, Spokane 76-73-73-222
Chuck Milne, Vancouver, Wash. 78-72-73-223
Mike Toll, Renton, Wash. 72-76-75-223
Barry Walters, Yakima 74-72-77-223
Chris Bae (a), Snoq., Wash. 74-72-78-224
Jeff Neeley (a), Mukilteo, Wash. 75-73-76-224
Mike Schoner, Medina, Wash. 76-74-74-224
Jonathan Schrader, Seattle 78-72-75-225
Jeff Neher (a), Walla Walla 77-71-77-225
Christopher Smith, Spokane 76-73-76-225
Kung Chih Chang (a), Mukilteo, Wash. 75-75-76-226
Mike Hegarty, Mission, Ore. 71-78-77-226
Grant Lancaster, Langley, Wash. 77-73-76-226
Joe Peccia, Portland 80-70-76-226
James Feutz (a), Tacoma 76-74-77-227
Lon Hinkle, Big Fork, Mont. 70-74-84-228
Craig Wilcox, Hillsboro, Ore. 77-73-81-231
Tyler Brooks, Pendleton, 75-75-82-232
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