Men's Amateur is coup for Moses Pointe

Famous and local favorites comprise field of 135 Tournament to be held June 21-24

MOSES LAKE — There is a sense of anticipation in the air at The Links at Moses Pointe golf course where grounds crews are planting extra flowers and head pro Bill Porter's eyes sparkle with excitement when talking about the Washington State Golf Association Men's Amateur Championship, taking place at the course June 21-24.

The prestigious 79th annual event is a first for the five-year-old course, though it has been held at the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club in past years.

The championship is Washington state's oldest amateur golf tournament, starting in 1922. Past champions include Professional Golf Association Tour star Fred Couples.

"It's a big deal," Porter said. "It's an opportunity to draw attention to our facility."

This year's field boasts a former Seattle Mariner Erik Hansen, who is the 2004 Pacific Northwest Open Champ. Of a field of 135 who will tee off Tuesday, 10 hail from the Columbia Basin.

Ephrata has a strong showing of four players with Ethan Lewis, John Molitor, Nick Tommer and Joseph Whalen. Three Moses Lake players will compete; Brock Johnson, Cody Lamb and Kirk Phillips are signed up. Other local golfers are Bart Ratitucci of Othello and Joseph Perkins and David James, both of Royal City.

Porter said Hansen is the favorite to win, but he also had high praise for a few local players.

Perkins, who will be going into his junior year of high school this fall, is an "extremely talented young player," Porter said. He also named Molitor as a definite potential to make the cut.

After initial rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday rounds, the field will be reduced to the players with the lowest 60 scores and ties. Play will continue on Thursday and Friday with an awards presentation Friday evening. Scores are cumulative throughout the championship.

There is no charge for admission to the WSGA Men's Amateur Championship and spectators are welcome.

"You're going to be able to get in really close to the action," Porter said.

Until the main event, staff at The Links are in serious preparation mode. One of the ways Porter has prepped is to work with Dudley Logan, a caddie on the PGA Tour, who helped to create a yardage book for the course.

"It's going to be a really unique tool that the players can have when they get here," Porter said.

Golf course superintendent Shawn Hocking and his grounds crew of 13 have been priming the course to show off the course during the tournament next week.

"We've built this program so that it should peak around the time of the tournament," Hocking said. His crews will also be making extra efforts to keep The Links carefully manicured during the championship.

"It will be good exposure for the course," Hocking said.

"We hope to put our best foot forward," Porter said.

Contact The Links at Moses Pointe for more information call (509) 764-2275.