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It's been a great summer so far for Washington State University golfers.
Let's start with Austin Hurt, who set a course record June 26 by firing a 65 to rally and win the Washington State Men's Amateur at Palouse Ridge in Pullman.
Three days later, teammate Nick Ellis set a course record of 59 at Walla Walla Veterans during the Les Schwab/Central Washington Chapter Pro-Am.
Ellis had nine birdies and an eagle through the first 11 holes.
He finished with 10 birdies and two eagles.
Ellis, a junior who prepped at Eastmont, set a chapter record for both professionals and amateurs. The previous record at Veterans was a 61.
-- Speaking of the Central Washington Chapter of the PGA, Wenatchee Country Club's Rob Clark is the leading professional through the June 8 match with 54 points.
Mike Schoner of Lakeview is second at 49.5 points, while Meadow Springs' Jason Aichele is third at 37.5 points.
Top amateurs are Meadow Springs' Jesse Van Schoiak (42.5 points), Sun Willows' Hank Chafin (33) and Canyon Lakes' Mark Olenius (25).
-- How about this?
Riley Hayfield, a junior at Kamiakin, stood at the tee box on the 14th hole at Columbia Point in Richland on June 25.
You know, the par-4 hole that runs along George Washington Way as you enter Richland. For most of us, it's tempting to swing for the green. But usually what happens is we end up in the bunker that runs in front of the green -- or worse, in the pond to the right.
The youngster, who placed 17th at the 4A state tournament at Canyon Lakes in May, took his 5-wood and belted his golf ball the 255 yards to the cup.
"The tee box was up and the pin was to the right," said Hayfield. "Usually, I hit a driver on that hole. But the tee box was up, so I used a 5. It kind of disappeared and we didn't see it go in. My friend also hit it onto the green. But when we got there, there was only one ball. We looked around and then we looked in the hole and saw it. We started freaking out."
Yes, the ball went in for an ace -- a very rare double eagle, also called an albatross.
And as far as Columbia Point head pro Joe Creager knows, it's the only one ever fired at the course in the 11 years he's been there.
"I never heard of someone doing it," Creager said. "They may have, but I'd like to hear them come forward to tell me."
Hayfield finished his round with a 69.
-- Creager reports that the First Tee practice area at Columbia Point is up and running with a putting green, a bunker and driving range at the opposite end of the main driving range.
"I thought (program director) Brandon Reed told me he had 250 kids signed up through the summer," Creager said.
Kids attend staggered classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and sometimes on weekends.
"It's just a great addition out here," Creager said.
-- Moses Lake's Jim Sparkman tied for fourth at the Pacific Northwest Senior Men's Amateur Championship on June 11 at the OGA Golf Course in Woodburn, Ore., where he fired a three-round total of 1-over 217. ... Goldendale's Zach Wanderscheid had the top score of 69 at Mt. Adams on June 30 in the third District 4 tournament in Washington Junior Golf Association play. His sister, Bree Wanderscheid, had the top girls score at 87. There is one more District 4 tournament, July 13, at Walla Walla Country Club, before the state tournament is held July 29-31 in the Bellevue area. ... Ryan Gilmour, an assistant pro out of Corvallis Country Club, won the Wildhorse Pro-Am Series Finale on July 1 with a two-round total of 125. He earned $7,500 for his effort. Former CBC golfer Birk Nelson, now at Diamond Woods, was second at 131. Richland High grad Sean Arey, playing out of Trysting Tree, was tied for sixth at 138. ... Spokane's Alex Prugh is looking good on the Nationwide Tour, currently ranking third on the money list with $180,698 through 12 events. Prugh's caddy is Richland High grad Zach Bixler. Both Prugh and Bixler were teammates at the University of Washington. ... A number of players with Mid-Columbia ties are set to tee off next week at the Rosauers Open at Spokane's Indian Canyon. They include Aichele, Arey, Brandon Black (Canyon Lakes), Jeff Hendler (Pasco Golfland), Hanford High graduate Marc Hughes (Eastern Washington University golf coach), Mike Kasch (Pasco Golfland), Nelson, brothers Drew and Maxton Reinland (Walla Walla Veterans Memorial), Brady Sharp (Walla Walla Country Club), Sunnyside High grad Adam Syverson (Indian Canyon), Brady Tracy (Moses Pointe) and Kevin Tucker (Canyon Lakes).
