Creswell, Ore. (Saturday, August 23, 2014) – Former Oregon Duck golfer Jack Dukeminier (Portland, Ore.) got off to a strong start in the first round of the 26th Oregon Mid-Amateur Championship, firing a three-under par 68 to take the lead into tomorrow’s final round.

 

Dukeminier started off slowly with a one-over-par 36 on the front nine, but got hot with a bogey-free 32 on the back with back-to-back-back birdies on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes. A birdie on the par-5 18th hole brought him into the clubhouse with the early lead.

 

“I knew we were playing not all the way back so there were going to be some birdies out there if you can hit it in the right spots – I really, really hit it well today” Dukeminier said, who regained his amateur status after the end of last season. “I like to play for fun now and I’m loving it again.”

 

Last year’s Oregon Men’s Stroke Play Master 40 Division Champion Charlie Rice (Bend, Ore.) sits just two strokes back after a first round three-under par 70. Mark Bowler (Portland, Ore.) and Shane Johnston (West Linn, Ore.) are three back after opening rounds of even-par 71.

 

In the Women’s Division, Brie Stone (Veneta, Ore.) looks to add to her unprecedented string of four straight victories at this competition after taking the first-round lead by two strokes over Lani Marie Elston (Milwaukie, Ore.) who sits just two back after a first round 75. Cappy Mack (Portland, Ore.) sits just four back after her first round 77.

 

“I felt like it went pretty well out there, I hit the ball pretty well, it was tough out there,” Stone said, who will head into tomorrow’s final round looking to make it five straight titles in this competition. “I always come in wanting to win, but I know what happens, happens and so I just try to come out and try and shoot somewhere around par.”

 

After the conclusion of Saturday’s play, many of the competitors commented on the excellent condition of the course.

 

“The golf course is playing firm & fast, just how these players expect it to in late summer,” said Oregon Golf Association Director of Tournament Operations Brent Whittaker. “The team here at Emerald Valley has done a tremendous job preparing the course to challenge the players in one of our biggest championships of the year.”

 

The two-day competition will continue Sunday morning, with the first groups teeing off at 8:00 a.m. on holes 1 & 10, with the final group of women teeing off at 8:20 and the final group of men teeing off at 10:10.

 

Positioned on 170 acres nestled by the gently flowing coast fork of the Willamette River, the golf course is one of the Willamette Valley’s premier championship public golf courses. It is known for its tree-lined fairways, fast-consistent greens and tournament quality course conditions year round. Ranked #1 of 71 Courses in Oregon from the back tees - Oregon Business, October 2005; “Golf Course of the Year 2004” - Oregon Golf Association, March 2005.

 

The typical storyline at Emerald Valley is that birdies can be plentiful on the front nine, but bogeys can be just as prevalent on the back nine especially for those that don't play smart. The course will play to a yardage of 6,693 for the men and 5,648 for the women. 

The minimum qualification for entrants is a handicap index of 10.0 or less for men and 22.4 or less for women who, as of August 23, 2014 are 25 years of age or older.

 

Live scoring, photos, recaps and player information can be found at www.oregonmidam.org

 

About The Oregon Golf Association (OGA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership association. Founded in 1924, the OGA was originally established with the sole purpose of conducting the Oregon Amateur Championship. Since its founding 88 years ago, the OGA works tirelessly to promote, foster, and grow the game of golf providing a multitude of benefits and services to approximately 42,000 individual men, women, senior, and junior members at over 270 member golf clubs and 190 golf courses throughout Oregon and SW Washington.