REDMOND, ORE.  – Bryce Wortman (Klamath Falls, Ore.) and Ellie Slama (Salem, Ore.) earned titles Friday at the 85th Bob Norquist Oregon Junior Amateur Championship, held from Monday thru Friday, June 22-26 at Eagle Crest Resort – Ridge Course in Redmond, Ore.

Wortman defeated Spencer Tibbits (Vancouver, Wash.) 4 and 3 to win the Junior Boys Division. Slama battled Ellen Secor (Portland, Ore.) for 23 holes before earning the Girls Division title.

“We saw some extremely impressive golf and some memorable matches this week,” said Robyn Lorain, Director of Junior Golf. “Thanks to all of our volunteers, the staff at Eagle Crest Resort and all of the players, this week was a huge success.”

The longest match of the week was the extremely competitive 23-hole Girls Division Championship between Slama and Secor. After Secor led by as much as 4-up, Slama gradually fought back, eventually tying the match after making a 6-foot par putt on the 17th hole. After both players parred number 18, a crowd of almost 50 players, parents and spectators joined in to watch extra holes. In front of the large audience, both players missed short par putts on the 19th hole (1st hole).

The nerves were shortly gone, however. On the second extra hole, Secor knocked in a 10-foot par putt that extended the match. After both players tied on the 21st and 22nd holes, Slama made par on the par-4 5th hole (23rd hole). Secor had a 15-foot putt for par but missed it right, meaning Slama had earned the Girls Division Championship.

Slama overcame a lot of obstacles to earn her win, including temperatures close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit and an early deficit.

“I was really trying to stay positive,” said Slama. “The weather was extremely hard to play in, and Ellen [Secor] was playing phenomenal golf. My goal was just to keep it going as long as possible, and we sure did.”

Slama also added that though the crowd was a bit intimidating, it might have helped her in the end.

“It was very nerve-wracking seeing that many people there watching,” she said. “But the pressure, I think, kind of helped a little bit and pushed me to do better, so that I could close it out.”

Just like the Girls Division Final, the Junior Boys Division final was played between the top two seeds in the bracket. After falling behind early in the front nine, Wortman took control going into the turn and led 3-up. After Tibbits cut it to two, Wortman birdied the par-3 13th hole, then birdied the par-4 15th to win the match, 4 and 3.

Today’s Championship match was a reversal from Wortman’s last two matches, where he was down and had to come back to win and advance.

“Playing Spencer [Tibbits], I knew I was going to have to play really well, and he fought hard” said Wortman. “I felt that I hit it a little better, and I think playing with him I knew I had to hit it better to keep up with him and put some pressure on him.”

“It was fun. He’s [Tibbits] a great competitor, and I knew I was going to have to play my best to beat him.”

Full Divisional Championship Match Results:

Junior Boys – Bryce Wortman (Klamath Falls, Ore.) def. Spencer Tibbits (Vancouver, Wash.), 4 and 3
Girls – Ellie Slama (Salem, Ore.) def. Ellen Secor (Portland, Ore.), 23 holes
Boys – Craig Ronne (Klamath Falls, Ore.) def. Samuel Pyon (Happy Valley, Ore.), 2 up
Intermediate Girls – Baylee Hammericksen (Medford, Ore.) def. Jessica Ponce (Portland, Ore.), 2 and 1
Intermediate Boys – Isaac Buerger (Redmond, Ore.) def. Mateo Fuenmayor (Beaverton, Ore.), 3 and 2
Pee Wee Girls – Riley Hammericksen (Medford, Ore.) def. Jacinda Lee (Camas, Wash.), 1 up
Pee Wee Boys – Graham Moody (Vancouver, Wash.) def. Ethan Tseng (Portland, Ore.), 1 up

Click here to view photos from Friday, as well as the entire week

For full results from flights in all divisions, photos, and prior recaps from this week, CLICK HERE or visit www.oregonjram.org.