Chambers Bay Named Best New Course

Travel + Leisure Golf magazine published by American Express Publishing Corp. chose the top 10 new courses for their November/December issue with Chambers Bay in Wash. leading the way.

Anyone who has played the game of golf knows that it is far more than just hitting a ball. There is a passion in every dedicated player and there is no better way to quench that desire then to play on some of the very best golf courses out there. Travel + Leisure Golf Best New Courses 2007 listed some that are open to all and others that are reserved for the pros. On the courses you can play you get to breathe in fresh air, enjoy stunning scenery and get a workout at the same time. What better way could there be to enjoy a holiday.

#1 - Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington (Public)

Chambers Bay is a golf masterpiece and a unique tribute to the historic links of Scotland and Ireland. With Puget Sound providing a serene backdrop this breathtaking layout winds through a stunning coastal setting, among windswept dunes and native fescue grasses. The snow-capped Olympic Mountains rim the western shore and eagles keep silent watch overhead. In every sense, Robert Trent Jones II has created an awe-inspiring design that is as spectacular as the beauty surrounding it.

Chambers Bay is conveniently located just outside of Tacoma, Wash. in Pierce County and less than an hour's drive from Seattle. This 18 hole championship golf course provides a traditional, links-style layout featuring impressive emerald greens, dazzling fairways, and brilliant tees. The overall views are just as spectacular as your soul escapes into the history of the game. This is a walking only, public resort links-style golf course and is golf in its purest form.

Chambers Bay - Pure Links Golf - http://www.chambersbaygolf.com/

#2 - Golf Club at Ravenna, Littleton, Colorado (Private)

After a career of designing some of America's finest golf courses, architect Jay Morrish chose Ravenna to be one of his final masterpieces. Like a sculptor, Jay saw the kind of course he could chisel from this dramatic property. The course terrain includes high outcrop faces with breathtaking views, pockets of pine and aspen, sunny valley floors, and water. It is a course as beautiful and enjoyable as it is challenging.

A tour of the golf course reveals something a bit more special than your average 18-hole experience. The Dakota Ridge splits the layout, putting the first nine and last three holes to the west of it, while numbers 10-15 lurk on the hogback's wildly rugged eastern side. The par-three 16th—perhaps the course's wildest hole forces you to carry a 50-foot-deep ravine. The finishing hole, a 602-yard par five, leads you straight into the ornate, 37,000-square-foot clubhouse perched at the edge of a steep ravine overlooking the 18th green.

Golf Club at Ravenna - http://www.ravennagolf.com/

#3 - Stonebrae Country Club, Hayward, California (Private)

Stonebrae Country Club's 18-hole championship golf course was designed by renowned golf architect David McLay Kidd of DMK Golf Design. Mr. Kidd spent extensive time and effort designing a course that appeals to a broad variety of skill levels and makes the most of this setting's unique undulating hill terrain, topographic subtleties and spectacular views.

The result is a beautiful hilltop course that fits harmoniously with its surroundings. But even more, it is a pleasure to play, with surprises and challenges for golfers at all levels. The course features a blend of colonial bent and fescue grasses with restored, native vegetation framing the approximately 7,200 yards of fairways. Natural-edged bunkers and an unpredictable hilltop breeze all contribute to each hole's adventure in reaching the green.

Stonebrae Country Club - http://www.stonebrae.com/

#4 - The Home Course, DuPont, Washington (Public)

The Home Course boasts five sets of tees ranging from 5,506 yards to a whopping 7,437 yards from the tips. The golf course is very walkable and was constructed by Weyerhaeuser with state-of-the-art-drainage technology to be playable year round. Panoramic views of Puget Sound, the Olympics and Mount Rainier are present throughout the golf course.

The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) and Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) puchased this course together from Weyerhaeuser. The Home Course will eventually house the offices of the WSGA, PNGA, and USGA activities in the Northwest, as well as other allied golf associations. It will be a home for junior golf programs, environmental stewardship and turfgrass research. Each year, The Home Course will also serve as the venue for some WSGA and PNGA championships and United States Golf Association national championship sectional qualifiers.

The Home Course - http://www.thehomecourse.com/

#5 - Promontory, Painted Valley Course, Park City, Utah (Private)

The Painted Valley Course - A Jack Nicklaus Signature Design is the second of up to five planned championship golf courses to be completed at Promontory, a 10-square mile private, family-friendly, luxury community. The course is an area known as the “Painted Valley” central moraine, located in the center of the Promontory property, offering players picturesque views of Deer Valley Ski Resort and the Uinta Mountain range.

Arguably the greatest golfer of all-time and now one of the best modern-day golf course architects, Jack Nicklaus has created a true Signature masterpiece at Promontory. As Jack stated, "Promontory represented one of the best golf course design opportunities of my lifetime. The site is extraordinary and I was given the freedom I needed to design a masterpiece." The course is considered a supreme test of golf, but will still be enjoyed for its natural, unspoiled beauty and breathtaking vistas, by all calibers of golfers.

The Painted Valley Course - A Jack Nicklaus Signature Design - http://www.promontoryclub.com/

#6 - The Golf Club of Cape Cod, Falmouth, Massachusetts (Private)

Rees Jones has designed a superior, 7,047-yard, Par-72 golf course at The Golf Club of Cape Cod in the traditions of old New England-style golf course design. Each hole has its own personality. You will find a variety of shot options at every turn, challenging your creativity of shot selection. Golfers will find no less than four tee locations on each hole, opening to ample landing areas and challenging each player to choose wisely between risk and reward.

The Golf Club, as it is known, may be the last privately developed golf course on Cape Cod due to limited space and strict land use regulations. The Cape Cod Commission, the regional land use planning and regulatory agency of Barnstable County, issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the golf course, allowing The Golf Club of Cape Cod to open.

The Golf Club of Cape Cod - http://www.tgccc.com/

#7 - Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Georgia (Private)

The Creek Course is Reynolds Plantation's first-ever member only course, and was designed by 2003 Golf Digest "Architect of the Year" Jim Engh. Featuring Engh's distinctive, rolling bunkers, exclusive Zoysia grass fairways and stunning home sites, The Creek Club continues the legacy of golfing excellence synonymous with the Reynolds name.

"In designing the fifth course at Reynolds Plantation, I got real lucky. There are only so many places left on earth that have a setting that's absolutely perfect." Jim Engh

Reynolds Plantation is part of what was once known as "Cracker's Neck," a highly favored section of Greene County (named for Revolutionary War hero General Nathaniel Greene). After a period of decline, approximately 7,000 acres of Cracker's Neck were reclaimed by Mercer Reynolds Sr., who built a hunting retreat named "Linger Longer." A Greene County native, Reynolds was a highly successful businessman and inventor, earning a patent for his process of solidifying cottonseed oil. Although he moved to Chattanooga in the 1920s, he maintained ties to the area, often returning to Linger Longer to hunt, fish and relax.

Creek Club at Reynolds Plantation - http://www.reynoldsplantation.com/

#8 - Kinloch Club, Kinloch, New Zealand (Public)

The Kinloch Club, anchored by the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, is one of only 25 around the globe to be included in the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, a collection of Signature Courses in destinations hand-picked by Nicklaus himself. Kinloch is the first and only Nicklaus-designed golf course in New Zealand.

The Golden Bear has been involved in the design of 256 courses worldwide. His privately held firm, Nicklaus Design, is recognised as the world leader, with 313 courses open for play in 30 countries. The firm also has courses under development in 37 different countries.

Kinloch, though, was a special project for Nicklaus who became endeared to the region many years before through his passion for fly-fishing. When developer Jean-Paul Pavlovic and William Ormerod (the Managing Director of Kinloch Golf Resort Ltd), and his partners began the concept they always had the Golden Bear in mind to approach. In fact they didn't have to contact him. He called them.

Ideally situated in the central portion of the North Island, with spectacular views of Lake Taupo, Kinloch is a volcanic area that is rich in pumice, or the dried, light, porous foam of lava that drains much like sand. At Kinloch, the land's characteristics feature fast-moving contours and knobs, and Nicklaus recreated that same look in the golf course. Many have described this true links layout as a course reminiscent of the coastal gems in Scotland, the birthplace of the game.

Kinloch Club - http://www.kinloch-golf.com/

#9 - Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Private)

Master golf course designer Tom Fazio has created Gozzer Ranch's breathtaking eighteen-hole championship golf course with spectacular views of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

This forested course is so well integrated with its surroundings that it looks like a natural part of the landscape. Some holes play close to the basalt rock bluff's edge, where dramatic 100-foot spires and cliffs surround the awe-inspiring scenery. The outstanding course and amazing views make a round of golf at Gozzer Ranch a truly magnificent experience.

As Fazio puts it, "here at Gozzer Ranch, the environment is so grand and unique there were tremendous opportunities to place holes in and around the dramatic elevations." While these elevations proved inspiring, Fazio also found them to be one of the biggest challenges. Meticulous attention was paid to protect the land from erosion and ensure the property's stability for generations to come.

If there is one word to sum up his Gozzer course, Fazio believes it is the most special "wow" you can think of. Whether "amazing," "spectacular," or "simply the best," it may sound cliché, but it's true. According to Fazio and the Gozzer community, "You won't believe this course; it's better than anything you can imagine."

Gozzer Ranch Golf & Lake Club - http://www.gozzerranchclub.com/

#10 - Cobble Beach Golf Links, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada (Public)

Cobble Beach Golf Links in just one season has quickly become popular with golfers and members and has become an overwhelming media favourite too. The Doug Carrick-designed course has been awarded as Ontario's Best New Course 2007 by Ontario Golf and Fairways magazines, and placed third for Best New Course in Canada by SCOREGolf. Cobble Beach's Nantucket-style clubhouse has been named by Fairways as Ontario's Best New Clubhouse.

With Cobble Beach Golf Links, Doug Carrick has crafted a course that calls to mind the game's legendary seaside locations. Each nine winds its way through open meadow edged with mature woodlands, rising to provide commanding views of the course and Georgian Bay beyond, and then returning to the shore for a memorable finish along the bluffs. The generous rippling fairways call for strategic decisions influenced by the day’s hole locations; the large and receptive greens are easy to find, but their undulations guarantee a challenging two-putt if your approach is too far from the flag. The links-like character is revealed in the run of the turf, the billowing fescue rough, the pot bunkers that lurk to catch the errant shot, the surrounding contours of the greens, and the breezes off the water. Cobble Beach is a course you can play a hundred times, and it will never play the same way twice.

Cobble Beach Golf Links - http://www.cobblebeachgolflinks.com/

Seven Courses From the Pacific Northwest on Golfweek's Best New Courses

Golfweek Magazine, the publication preferred by serious golfers, released its annual list of Golfweek's Best New Courses for 2007, in its October 20th issue.

Golfweek's Best New Courses list recognizes the high quality that architects and builders have delivered at the top 50 public, private and resort courses all of which have opened since 2005.

"Golfweek's list of the best new courses is a fascinating cross-section of what it takes today to have an impact in a tough market," said Golfweek's Best Courses program director and architecture editor, Bradley S. Klein. "Tradition seems to be a major element, with many of our top new designs, including No. 1 Bandon Trails, No. 2 Chambers Bay, and No. 3 Sebonack, emphasizing walkability, caddies, and links-style golf."

The No. 1 spot on the list was awarded for the second year in a row to Bandon Trails, a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design that opened in 2005 in Bandon, Ore. Coming in a close second is Chambers Bay Golf Club, designed by Bruce Charlton and Robert Trent Jones Jr. The Rees Jones-designed Daniel Island - Ralston Creek in Charleston, S.C., rounds out the Top 50.

The list is derived from the efforts of Golfweek's course raters. This nationwide team of more than 450 evaluators regularly surveys over 1,800 golf courses and renders their judgment on the basis of 10 standards of evaluation.

The Golfweek's Best New Courses, Classic, Modern, and state-by-state lists, may be found at Golfweek.com.

Founded in 1975, Golfweek magazine is the publication preferred by serious golfers. It delivers the most complete news and information about the game, the people and the golf lifestyle, to golf's most important audience. Golfweek is part of Turnstile Publishing Company, which is one of the nation's leading publishing companies, specializing in high-end publications for active and affluent audiences. Turnstile Publishing Co. is the parent corporation of such publications as TurfNet, GLO, Fish & Fly, Art Calendar, GeezerJock, TurfNet.com, GLOliving.com, ArtCalendar.com, GolfweekHomes.com, GeezerJock.com and Golfweek.com which features golf's first online television network, GolfweekTV. Turnstile Publishing Co., is headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and is also affiliated with Skyhorse Publishing.

2007 Golfweek's Best New Courses

1. Bandon Trails, Bandon, OR, Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, 2005
2. Chambers Bay GC, University Place, WA, Bruce Charlton, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 2007
3. Sebonak GC, Southampton, NY, Tom Doak, Jack Nicklaus, 2006
4. Ballyneal, Holyoke, CO, Tom Doak, 2006
5. Bright's Creek GC, Mill Spring, NC, Tom Fazio, 2006
6. Bayonne GC, Bayonne, NJ, Eric Bergstol, 2006
7. Concession GC, Sarasota, FL, Jack Nicklaus, 2006
8. Colorado GC, Parker, CO, Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, 2007
9. Pronghorn - Fazio Course, Bend, OR, Tom Fazio, 2006
10. Boston GG, Hingham, MA, Gil Hanse, 2005

11. Fallen Oak, Saucier, MS, Tom Fazio, 2006
12. The Territory, Duncan, OK, Randy Heckenkemper, 2005
13. Whisper Rock - Upper Course, Scottsdale, AZ, Tom Fazio, 2005
14. Olde Stone, Bowling Green, KY, Arthur Hills, 2006
15. We-Ko-Pa GC - Saguaro, Fountain Hills, AZ, Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw, 2006
16. Forest Creek GC - North Course, Southern Pines, NC, Tom Fazio, 2005
17. Three Creek Ranch, Jackson, WY, Rees Jones, 2005
18. Creek Club, Oconee, GA, Jim Engh, 2007
19. Liberty National, Jersey City, NJ, Bob Cupp, Tom Kite, 2006
20. Lakota Canyon, New Castle, CO, Jim Engh, 2005

21. Greywalls, Marquette, MI, Mike Devries, 2005
22. Atchafalaya GC at Idlewild, Patterson, LA, Robert von Hagge, 2005
23. Headwaters Club at Teton Springs, Victor, ID, Gary Stephenson, 2005
24. Shelter Harbor GC, Westerly, RI, Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan, 2005
25. Spring Creek GC, Xions Crossroads, VA, Ed Carton, 2006
26. Erin Hills GC, Hartford, WI, Dana Fry, Michael Hurdzan, 2006
27. Blackstone GC, Peoria, AZ, Jim Engh, 2006
28. Stone Eagle GC, Palm Desert, CA, Tom Doak, 2005
29. Three Crowns GC, Casper, WY, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 2005
30. Tesoro Club, Port St. Lucie, FL, Arnold Palmer, 2005

31. Tumble Creek, Roslyn, WA, Tom Doak, 2005
32. The Classic Club, Palm Desert, CA, Arnold Palmer, 2006
33. Tuhaye, Tuhaye, UT, Mark O'Meara, 2005
34. Lake of Isles - North Course, North Stonington, CT, Rees Jones, 2005
35. Lake of Isles - South Course, North Stonington, CT, Rees Jones, 2005
36. Osprey Meadows GC, Donnelly, ID, Bruce Charlton, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., 2006
37. Canyata, Marshall, IL, Mike Benkusky, 2005
38. Grande Dunes - Members Course, Myrtle Beach, SC, Craig Schreiner, 2005
39. The River Club, Suwanee, GA, Greg Norman, 2005
40. Grizzly Ranch GC, Portola, CA, Bob Cupp, 2005

41. Andalusia CC, LaQuinta, CA, Rees Jones, 2006
42. Dismal River Club, Mullen, NE, Jack Nicklaus, 2006
43. Pradera, Parker, CO, Jim Engh, 2005
44. Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Arden, NC, Jack Nicklaus, 2005
45. Bayside GC, Fenwick Island, DE, Rick Jacobson, Jack Nicklaus, 2005
46. Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, FL, Pete Dye, 2005
47. Oxford Greens GC, Oxford, CT, Mark Mungeam, 2005
48. The Peninsula Golf Course, Millsboro, DE, Jack Nicklaus, 2006
49. Home Course, DuPont, WA, Mike Asmundson, 2007
50. Daniel Island - Ralston Creek, Charleston, SC, Rees Jones, 2006

Oregon Golf Association Honor Volunteers

Each year the Oregon Golf Association (OGA) recognizes the contributions made by its volunteers for their contributions to the organization and the game of golf with the Bill Worden Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The award was named in honor of Worden who was the tragic victim of a traffic accident while on a course rating trip in 2005. "Bill epitomized what volunteering and giving back to the sport is all about," noted OGA Executive Director Jim Gibbons. "We are blessed to have a large group of devoted volunteers caring enough about the game of golf to invest countless hours ensuring each tournament or golf course rating is conducted at the highest level," he added.

This year, the OGA recognized Teri Melnichuk of Milwaukie, Ore. as OGA Volunteer of the Year. Teri and her husband Steve have been volunteering with the OGA for more than twelve years, mostly with the TAG Team (Tournament Assisting Group).

"I like every aspect of volunteering with the OGA," said Melnichuk. "No one job is better than the other, but I truly have a soft spot in my heart for junior golf. I see what my husband got back from being a teacher…and seeing young kids grow and mature has been amazing."

In addition to her work at tournaments, Melnichuk also helped represent the OGA at the Portland Golf Show and was instrumental in helping roll out ExploreOregonGolf.com – a new comprehensive online golf course, golf club and golf event directory developed in cooperation with Travel Oregon.

In addition to Volunteer of the Year, other volunteers were selected as honorees including Mark Reed of West Linn, Ore., Owen Osborne of Black Butte, Ore. and Deb Bartel of Woodburn, Ore.

Reed is one of fifteen volunteers who serve on the OGA Executive Committee. During the past year, Reed worked extensively with the staff of both the OGA and OGA Golf Course developing the association's long range vision and its plan to better serve the golf community.

Osborne was recognized for his contributions assisting the OGA in rating nearly every course scheduled for evaluation this year. Course rating teams assist the OGA in measuring, compiling and analyzing the physical attributes more than 25 golf courses in Oregon and Southwest Washington each year providing each course with accurate measurements, course and slope ratings to ensure that players of differing abilities have equitable course handicaps and are able to participate in enjoyable and competitive games.

Bartel was one of the most active volunteers in her rookie season. She volunteered her time over multiple days at the Portland Golf Show and entering data into the ExploreOregonGolf website and made herself available for many events outside of the Portland area where the OGA generally finds itself short-staffed. Regardless of the task, Bartel was always eager to help.

EWGA's Cheri Brennan Receives Canon Award

SEATTLE, Wash. - Cheri Brennan was named as the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Canon Businesswoman of the Year for the Pacific Northwest Section of the Executive Women's Golf Association.

The program recognizes 12 EWGA members around the country who have demonstrated "exemplary business leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and expert business acumen to enhance and promote the EWGA and the growth of women's golf, while at the same time achieving success both on and off the course."

Brennan, a member of EWGA's Seattle Chapter since 1998, currently serves as that group's communications director and PR chair. She also provides pro bono public relations services to The First Tee of Greater Seattle and the Northwest Ladies Golf Association.

In 1990, Brennan established her own marketing and public relations consulting business, Alliance Communications, located in Bellevue, Wash. She is also a founding partner of a virtual agency, GolfMarketingTeam.com.

Canon U.S.A, Inc., a leader in digital imaging, and the Executive Women's Golf Association named Sharon Reich of Orlando, Florida, as the 2007 recipient of the Canon Businesswoman of the Year Award.

Canon, in its fifth year of sponsoring this award, expanded its involvement in this year's program to recognize 12 of the most outstanding EWGA members throughout the country. Reich and Brennan, and the 1o other finalists were honored at this year's event at the EWGA Annual Conference, in Amelia Island, Florida.

"The Canon Businesswoman of the Year Award recognizes a EWGA member who has demonstrated exemplary business leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and expert business acumen, skills and talent to achieve success both on and off the golf course,” said William Reed, senior vice president and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “By expanding our involvement in this program, we can help raise the recognition of true business leaders whose skills serve them well – whether it is in the boardroom or on the golf course.”

Reich, a trust administrator with Wachovia Bank in Orlando, demonstrates business leadership in her career and volunteer activities. Reich, who has been with Wachovia for more than 16 years, frequently utilizes golf in her business relationships and has helped host an all-women's event at the Wachovia PGA Championship. As president of the EWGA Orlando chapter, Reich helped the chapter more than double its membership and she now serves as the EWGA assistant sectional director for Florida.

In addition to her involvement with the EWGA, Reich is on the board of the Central Florida Estate Planning Council and serves on the WMFE Endowment Committee for Central Florida’s public radio and television stations.

In addition to Reich and Brennan, the 10 other finalists for the Canon Businesswoman of the Year award included:

~Robin K. Anderson, Houston, Texas, EWGA Chapter, South Central Section
~Connie Deckert, Waterloo Region, Ontario, EWGA Chapter, Great Lakes International Section
~Heidi Loeb, Northern Nevada, EWGA Chapter, California Section
~Barbara McCormick, Tucson, Arizona, EWGA Chapter, Mountain West Section
~Stefanie Meyer-Frickey, Augusta, Ga., EWGA Chapter, Heart of the South Section
~Mary Mills, Hampton Roads, Va., EWGA Chapter, Carolina Section
~Ann Pangman-Esterman, Rochester Region, N.Y., EWGA Chapter, New England Section
~Laura Posey, Richmond, Va., EWGA Chapter, Chesapeake Section
~Barbara Reiland, Quad Cities, Iowa, EWGA Chapter, Heartland Section
~Claudia Romana, New York City EWGA Chapter, Metro Northeast Section

About EWGA

Founded in 1991, the EWGA is dedicated to providing opportunities for women to learn, play, and enjoy the game of golf for business and for life. There are over 120 chapters throughout the United States with international chapters in Canada and France, each run by volunteer leaders. The chapters provide a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for both new and experienced golfers. The association is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Please visit: http://www.ewga.com/.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ - News), a top patent holder of technology, ranking third overall in the U.S. in 2006†, with global revenues of $34.9 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands." To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/pressroom.

Scott Alexander Named Top Golf Pro in Pacific Northwest

Scott Alexander, director of golf operations at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, this week was named the 2007 Pacific Northwest Section Golf Professional of the Year.

It was the second time Alexander earned the honor, having been named the top pro in the Pacific Northwest in 1998.

"It's voted on by other golf professionals, so it's certainly an honor I take very seriously," said Alexander, a two-time winner of the section's merchadiser of the year award. "But I think it also says something about our staff at the club. It's not just me."

Alexander, a 24-year member of the PGA who is serving as volunteer assistant coach for the University of Washington golf team this season, has helped turn Gold Mountain into one of the premier public facilities in the state since joining the club in 1984.

Gold Mountain's Olympic Course played host to the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links and will be home to the 2008 NCAA West Regional tournament in May.

The club is also slated to host another USGA event in 2011 and the Huskies plan to bid for the 2012 or 2013 NCAA Championships.

The Professional of the Year Award is the highest honor paid to a PGA professional. The honoree is chosen based on his or her leadership abilities, performance as a PGA Professional and service to the Association and to the game of golf. The award is presented every year at the Pacific Northwest Section PGA annual meeting held in Puyallup.

Pacific Northwest Golf Association Recognizes 2007 Players of the Year

In an effort to recognize exceptional performances this year in regional amateur golf, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association announced the winners of their 2007 Player of the Year awards.

The Player of the Year candidates are nominated by the various state and provincial golf associations that comprise the PNGA (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington), and are selected by a vote of the PNGA Championship Committee and members of the Northwest Golf Media Association. Awards are given in six different categories: Men's, Women's, Senior Men's, Senior Women's, Junior Boys', and Junior Girls'.

This year is hightlighted by Victoria's Alison Murdoch, who took her show on the road this summer and had a season for the ages. After the dust had settled this fall, she found herself to be the national champion of three different countries. A nice triple crown.

She started the run with a victory in the RCGA Royale National Women's Senior Championship, her fourth title in the event in the past six years, joining Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Gayle Borthwick and Marlene Stewart Streit as the only 4-time winners of the championship.

Then she was off to Ennis, Ireland, where she won the Irish Senior Ladies Amateur Championship, her third triumph in this event in the past four years.

From Ireland, she then went across the Channel to Copt Heath, England, where she won the Senior Ladies' British Amateur Championship by seven shots. It was her first title in this championship.

Since the turn of the millennium, Murdoch has become one of the most dominant international amateurs in senior women's golf, winning 10 senior championships in four countries.

2007 Winners

Men's Player of the Year

Kyle Stanley, Gig Harbor, Washington
• 2007 U.S.A. Walker Cup Team Member
• NCAA National Championship – 2nd
• Sahalee Players' Championship – 3rd
• NCAA East Regional – 3rd
• The Player's Amateur – 3rd
• ACC Conference Championship – 3rd
• Northeast Amateur – 4th
• Western Amateur – Quarterfinalist
• U.S. Amateur – Round of 32
• Sunnehanna Amateur – 11th
• Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year
• Ping/Golfweek Division I First-Team All-American
• Currently #2 in Golfweek World Amateur Rankings (reached #1)
• Currently #7 in R&A’s World Amateur Golf Rankings

Women's Player of the Year

Kira Meixner, Richmond, BC
• BCGA Women's Amateur – Champion
• RCGA Royale National Women's Amateur – 6th
• RCGA Royale National Women's Inter-Provincial Team Champions
• RCGA National Women's Team Member
• U.S. Women's Amateur – Round of 32
• British Women's Amateur – 2nd round
• Mexican Ladies' Amateur – 2nd
• Won the Lady Northern Invitational as a member of the Kent State University Women's Golf Team
• September 2007 – Named Player of the Week by Golfweek Magazine
• Ranked #1 in B.C. Order of Merit for Amateur Women
• Ranked #1 in RCGA Order of Merit for Amateur Women

Senior Men's Player of the Year

Sandy Harper, Richmond, BC
• PNGA Men's Mid-Amateur – Champion
• BCGA Men's Mid-Amateur – 4th
• BCGA Men's Amateur – 13th
• BCGA Zone 6 - Champion
• RCGA Canadian Club – Champion
• RCGA Canadian Men's Amateur – 2nd round
• Ranked #1 in B.C. Order of Merit for Mid-Amateur Men
• Ranked #2 in B.C. Order of Merit for Amateur Men
• Ranked #34 in RCGA Order of Merit for Amateur Men

Senior Women's Player of the Year

Alison Murdoch, Victoria, BC
• RCGA Royale National Women's Senior Amateur – Champion
• Irish Senior Ladies' Amateur – Champion
• Senior Ladies' British Amateur – Champion
• BCGA Senior Women's Amateur – 2nd
• BCGA Women's Mid-Amateur – 2nd
• BCGA Zone 5 Women's and Sr. Women’s Amateurs – Champion
• PNGA Women's Mid-Amateur – Semifinalist
• PNGA Senior Women's Amateur – 5th

Junior Boys' Player of the Year

Zach MacDougall, Coquitlam, BC
• BCGA Junior Boys' – Champion
• BCGA Zone 4 Championship – 2nd
• RCGA Canadian Junior Boys' Amateur – 3rd
• RCGA Inter-Provincial Team Champions
• RCGA Canadian Men's Amateur – Round of 16
• AJGA Pacific Northwest International Junior – T2nd
• Ranked #1 in B.C. Order of Merit for Junior Boys
• Ranked #7 in RCGA Order of Merit for Junior Boys

Junior Girls' Player of the Year

Sue Kim, Langley, BC
• U.S. Girls' Junior Amateur Championship – Quarterfinalist
• Callaway Junior World Golf Championship – 4th
• BCGA Junior Girls' – 3rd
• RCGA Royale National Junior Girls – T3rd
• RCGA Royale National Women's Amateur – 2nd
• RCGA National Junior Girls' team member
• Quebec Future Links – Champion
• Pacific Future Links – Champion
• Ranked #1 in B.C. Order of Merit for Junior Girls
• Ranked #3 in B.C. Order of Merit for Amateur Women
• Ranked #1 in RCGA Order of Merit for Junior Girls
• Ranked #3 in RCGA Order of Merit for Amateur Women