2008 TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

DAY ONE:  JACKSON PARK GOLF COURSE

Spectacular weather greeted the first round of the 74th Seattle Amateur Championship held at superbly manicured 6247 yard, par 71 Jackson Park Golf Course on Wednesday July 2nd. The elite 159 person field is limited to a maximum handicap of 3.5. 

Low round of the day was a 3 under par 68 by Richard Lee who currently plays for Bellevue Community College. Last year he lead wire-to-wire and today’s round made a strong statement that he is serious about defending his title. Tyler Kato, last year’s runner up shot 73 while playing with Sean Packer (76), 2007 3rd place finisher and Western Washington University’s male athlete of the year.

There are four golfers, including 1997 Champion Bryan Stevens, who shot 69 and find themselves one shot back heading into the second round.

Dave Farnam, 8 time past champion, had an opening round of 2 over par 73 and certainly will be putting pressure on the leaders in round two as he goes to his home course in an attempt to close the gap Scoring conditions were great as we saw fifteen golfers shooting par or better. Please visit the Seattle Amateur Website at www.premiergc.com/amateur.php for more details.

The Seattle Amateur Tournament Committee has changed the rotation for this year’s event. For the first time in 12 years the final round will not be hosted by scenic West Seattle GC. The honor, this year, goes to Jefferson Park (a Seattle Am final round host through the ‘80’s and ‘90’s). Historic Jefferson Park (est. 1915) is the oldest municipal golf course west of the Mississippi and hosted the United States Public Links Championship in 1967. You will be surprised when you see a number of beautiful new bunkers at Jefferson as this is the first event they have hosted since they began their bunker renovation project earlier this year.

The decision to change the rotation this year was simply made with the thought that we want the entire field to see the “crown jewel” of Seattle golf. This event boasts 160 of the best amateur golfers in the northwest and only the top 54 surviving the cut traditionally see West Seattle GC. This year, the entire field will see why Golf Magazine says that, “West Seattle GC is one of the country’s best urban municipals.”

The leaders will tee off for the final round at Jefferson Park at approximately 10:30 on Friday July 4th.

Colin Gants
Seattle Amateur Champion
PGA Head Professional
West Seattle GC

DAY ONE SCORING