Corvallis, Ore. – Championship Sunday at the 18th Oregon Public Links Championship proved to be a series of battles for the Men’s Championship, Men’s Open, and Women’s Championship titles.  Trysting Tree Golf Club played a little firmer and a little drier with the sun shining down, and players were challenged on the par-72 layout. In the end, the cream rose to the top.

The Men’s Open division proved to be a duel between day one leader Austin Willhite of Vida, Ore. and Billy Anderson of Eugene, Ore.  Playing in the final group together, Willhite faltered a little on day two, coming in with a 4-over par 76 after his opening-round 72.  Anderson, on the other hand, held steady and posted a second straight 2-over 74.  Their two-day totals both equaled 148 and so Willhite and Anderson split the Gross Division title.  Tim Finley of Milwaukie, Ore. won the Men’s Open Net title with a 36-hole net score of 131.

On the Women’s side of things, Colorado State Golfer Sarah Archuleta of West Linn, Ore. won wire-to-wire, but it wasn’t without a little drama.  Haleigh Krause of Eugene Oregon, who plays for San Diego State, shot a bogey-free 68 on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough as she took second place with a two-day total of 147.  With a one-shot lead going into the final round after a first day 74, Archuleta played the same consistent golf that put her in the lead in the first place.  After 2 birdies and 7 pars, Archuleta made the turn even for the tournament, and her back nine 37 gave her a 1-under 71 for the day.  Her two-day total of 145 was good enough to hold off the surging Krause.  Portland State golfer Riley Leming of Portland, Ore. took third with a two-day total of 150 and Kate Harper of Eugene, Ore. took forth with a 152.  RaeChelle Leiken won the Women’s Net Championship with a two-day net score of 145.

There was a large group of golfers who had a shot at winning the 18th Oregon Men's Public Links Championship, but in the end defending champion Hogan Arey took his second straight title.  Arey, who now plays collegiate golf for University of Louisiana–Monroe, grew playing the Trysting Tree Golf Club, and now has won two Public Links titles on his old stomping grounds.  Arey followed up his day one 4-under 68 with a 3-under 69 for a winning total of 7-under 137.   First-day leader and Southern Illinois golfer Jacob Henderson, playing alongside Arey, couldn’t rally after 3 back-nine bogeys and finished in a tie for second at 140.  Tied with Henderson for second place was Tom Greller of Newberg, Ore. and Matt Hartley of Vancouver, Wash.

The OGA Championship schedule continues next weekend with the 65th Parent-Child Chapman at Salem Golf Club.

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For a photo gallery of the 18th Oregon Public Links Championship click here