Well played Dean!
"It feels fantastic," says Russell. "It's very gratifying, humbling. It was a very competitive match played in terrible weather. But we both played pretty well, and it was a lot of fun."
After setting out from Bellingham at 4am, arriving at Sahalee at 6am,and teeing off at 8am, Russell found himself 4up with just five holes to play before Johnson rattled off birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th to take the match to the final hole. On the last, however, Russell cooly rolled in a four-footer to take the match 1up and claim the first sectional title of his career.
Afterwards, Russell paid tribute to his opponent who, he said, would beat him 19 times out of 20 at strokeplay. "Jerry is a very good player," he said. "I'm probably not quite at his level, but matchplay can be a funny game."
Russell, who describes himself as a grinder that 'sort of sneaks up on opponents', got to the final after winning the championship's Pro-Am qualifier at Hawks Prairie in Lacey in April then beating a trio of fellow PNWPGA sectional professionals at matchplay over the course of the summer. First up was Gordy Graybeal whom Russell beat 4&3 at Everett GCC. He took out Tacoma CGC's Rich Friend 3&2 in the second round, also at Everett, then defeated Sahalee's Head Professional Jim Pike at Broadmoor 1up.
That's an impressive line-up and Russell has every right to proudly display the trophy at the Hitting Zone. "Really, I'm just a teaching pro so it was nice to bring the trophy into work this morning and show it to the customers and all those I teach."
Best of all, says Russell, was heading out last night to celebrate with his son at Coconut Kenny's. "He told me that no one will ever be able to take this away from me. 'You're in the books' he said. That was really cool."
Western Washington shot a superb four-under 280 in today's second and final round of the St Martin's Invitational at Olympia CC to climb six places up the leaderboard and finish the tournament in second place, one shot behind winner Cal State Stanislaus. In shooting the best round of the tournament, the Vikings improved 26 shots from round one with four of its five team members matching or beating par.
"It was close to being a really good round, so I was pleased with that," said head coach Steve Card. "We were obviously the best team on the course today, but it's a two-day tournament. I saw some progress. I don't think we're anywhere close to where we're capable of being, but we've got a few days to work that out and take another shot at it next week."
Jake Webb finished top among the Vikings, coming in fifth with rounds of 73 and 70. Nick Varelia tied for 15th on 146, Dylan Goodwin was T18 on 147, Sandy Vaughan shot 150 and tied for 26th, and Brian Barhanovich had a share of 45th with 155.
Hawaii-Hilo's Jamie Hall won medialist honors with rounds of 72 and 67.
Western next competes at the Grand Canyon Fall Invitational on October 3-4 at the Wigwam Golf and Country Club Gold Course in Litchfield Park, Arizona.
St Martin's Invitational results here.
Western Washington's Nick Varelia was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week for his joint runner-up performance at last week's Viking Invitational at Bellingham Golf & Country Club. The senior from Kent shot three-under 141 for the 36 holes to finish six behind winner Trevor Blair of Cal State Stanislaus.
The final 2011 Lake Padden Men's Club money list, incorporating the ProGraphics Challenge, has been published. Thanks to his win in the ProGraphics Challenge (Net), and $260 prize, Jack Sanford leapfrogged Doug Nemo at the top of the list to finish first with a total of $872.50. Money list here.
