Union-Bulletin

WALLA WALLA - Nick Ellis of East Wenatchee and Rob Matson of Wenatchee pulled away from the field to win the 55th Annual Washington State Men's Best-Ball Championship at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla.

Kirk Galbraith and Chris Indall, both of Richland, went wire-to-wire to capture the 14th Annual Senior Men's Best-Ball Championship. The gusty winds on the Dan Hixson links-style course made for a demanding final round for all 92 teams in the field.

Ellis and Matson went into the final round paired with their fellow co-leaders, Bob Conrad and Greg Richards, both of Bellevue, at 3-under par. Ellis and Matson would quickly gain the lead with a birdie on hole #1 and never look back, posting a 3-under par 69 to bring their two-day winning total to 6-under par 138.

This is Matson's second WSGA Men's Best-Ball title going along with his victory in 2003 at Inglewood Country Club. Ellis is a member of the Washington State University Golf team and a recent qualifier at the U.S. Open Local earlier this month.

In a four-way tie for second place at 3-under par 141 were Brad Treadwell of Seattle and Andrew Larson of Mukilteo; Tom Herrick of Olympia and Michael Kloenne of West Linn, Ore.; David Nuhn of Moscow, Idaho and Aaron Curtis of Richland, and Tom Brandes of Bellevue and Alex Stamey of Mill Creek.

In the Senior Division, Galbraith and Indall made four birdies, two on the front and two on the back with only two bogeys, for a final round of 2-under par 70, giving them a two-day winning total of 5-under par 139.

In a six-way tie for second place at 2-under par 142 were Greg Tatham of Lewiston, Idaho and Mike Welling of Asotin; Bruce Richards of Seattle and Dr. Jack Lamey of Bellevue; Paul Reni and Steve MacGeorge, both of Shoreliine; Keith Best of Pasco and Mike Smart of Kennewick; Jim Sparkman of Moses Lake and Nick Tommer of Ephrata; and Dick Cartmell and Jim Bixler, both of Richland. The seniors played the course at 6,367 yards par 72.

Wine Valley Golf Club was designed by Hixson and opened for play in 2009. PGA Director of Golf John Thorsnes described the course as a "wide open links-style golf course." The players faced firm and fast conditions as well as large undulating greens. On conditions players could face Hixson said, "you can't just come out here and play it the same way over and over. You've got to think and adapt."

Next year's Washington State Men's and Senior Men's Best-Ball Championship will be held at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. on May 24-25, 2012 .

Since 1922, the WSGA has been conducting the state's amateur golf championships. Today, it is one of the largest amateur golf associations in the United Stated. Serving over 74,000 members, 500 member golf clubs and 260 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, the WSGA works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds. The WSGA is a non-profit association governed by volunteer, amateur golfers. WSGA members pay an annual membership fee, through their club, to belong to the Association. In addition, the WSGA serves as a region wide representative of the United States Golf Association and works closely with other allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.

For more information on the WSGA Men's and Senior Men's Best-Ball Championships and the rest of the 14 amateur championships conducted by the WSGA this year, please visit http://www.thewsga.org.

Men's Best-Ball

Wine Valley Golf Club

Par 72

6,779 yards

Final Round Results

Rank Gross-Scores

1. 69-69-138

Nick Ellis, East Wenatchee, WA

Rob Matson, Wenatchee, WA

T2. 73-68-141

Alex Stamey, Mill Creek, WA

Tom Brandes, Bellevue, WA

T2. 73-68-141

Michael Kloenne, West Linn, OR

Tom Herrick, Olympia, WA

T2. 72-69-141

Aaron Curtis, Richland, WA

David Nuhn, Moscow, ID

T2. 73-68-141

Andrew Larson, Mukilteo, WA

Brad Treadwell, Seattle, WA

6. 71-71-142

Jake Easterly, Portland, OR

Luke Easterly, Camarillo, CA

7. 72-71-143

John Moscrip, Issaquah, WA

Marty Mehl, Seattle, WA

T8. 74-70-144

Jim Pliska, Gresham, OR

Jonny Walker, Bend, OR

T8. 72-72-144

Brad Karns, Ridgefield, WA

George White, Vancouver, WA

10. 71-74-145

Bob Conrad, Bellevue, WA

Greg Richards, Bellevue, WA

T11. 76-70-146

Jim Campasino, Spokane, WA

Kevin Hillyer, Spokane, WA

T11. 73-73-146

Kelly Denessen, Snohomish, WA

Paul Bonorden, Snohomish, WA

T11. 76-70-146

Keith Crimp, Ellensburg, WA

Randy Crimp, Ellensburg, WA

T14. 73-74-147

Anthony Howells, Enumclaw, WA

Tyler Salsbury, Enumclaw, WA

T14. 75-72-147

Kevin Michelson, Walla Walla, WA

Mark Olenius, Richland, WA

T16. 73-75-148

Chris DeGrazia, Lynnwood, WA

Mike Hickok, Kirkland, WA

T16. 77-71-148

Kim Hubbart, Sammamish, WA

Steve Zalewski, Liberty Lake, WA

T16. 74-74-148

Ken Baumann, Peshastin, WA

Terry Crockett, East Wenatchee, WA

T16. 76-72-148

Cameron Whittle, Moses Lake, WA

Tom Whittle, Moses Lake, WA

T16. 76-72-148

Michael Detrick Jr., Pasco, WA

Rob Marshall, Richland, WA

T21. 73-76-149

Brandon Roberts, Snoqualmie, WA

Michael Crow, Seattle, WA

T21. 77-72-149

Chris Bae, Issaquah, WA

Patrick Dunn, Snoqualmie, WA

T23. 77-74-151

Ray Gallipo, Yakima, WA

Ward Jackson, Yakima, WA

T23. 79-72-151

Dan Varelia, Kent, WA

David Varelia, Kent, WA

T23. 79-72-151

Brian Remington, Seattle, WA

Matt Remington, Seattle, WA

T26. 74-78-152

Hank Chafin, Pasco, WA

Mike Hodgins, Pasco, WA

T26. 76-76-152

John Kari, Coeur d'Alene, ID

Tony Hanna, Post Falls, ID

T26. 76-76-152

James Harvey Jr, Richland, WA

Michael Wheeler, Everett, WA

29. 82-71-153

Bill Boggs, Walla Walla, WA

Gregg Corn, Walla Walla, WA

T30. 81-73-154

Jeff Raulston, Kirkland, WA

Josh Kechloian, Seattle, WA

T30. 79-75-154

John Douglas, Pasco , WA

Ken Borello, Yakima, WA

T32. 79-77-156

Brett Schlameus, Edmonds, WA

Todd Benzel, Wenatchee, WA

T32. 78-78-156

Andrew Schutt, Sunnyside, WA

Sean Tudor, Grandview, WA

T32. 81-75-156

Rob Robb, Liberty Lake, WA

Tanner Robb, Liberty Lake, WA

T35. 79-78-157

Britten Barker, Tacoma, WA

Dan Sargent, Edgewood, WA

T35. 81-76-157

Michael Dolder, Snohomish, WA

Rhett Brown, Everett, WA

37. 78-80-158

Phil Beste, Allyn, WA

Tom Campbell, Port Orchard, WA

38. 81-79-160

Jacob Barnhart, Walla Walla, WA

Mike Byerley, Touchet, WA

39. 80-81-161

Jim Rosenbaum, Tacoma, WA