Noteworthy field gathered for 76th Washington Open
KENT — A PGA Tour pro, two three-time defending champions and a 14-year-old boy headline the field for the Merrill Lynch Washington Open Invitational that begins tomorrow at the Meridian Valley Country Club.
Jeff Gove, who won the event in 1995, is the Tour pro. The three-time champs are defending titlist Jeff Coston, who runs a golf school in Blaine, and Todd Erwin, an instructor at the Performance Golf Center in Gig Harbor. The 14-year-old is Kyle Stanley, an eighth-grader at the Charles Wright Academy outside Tacoma. Stanley got in the field by shooting a 1-over 73 at Tumwater Valley Golf Course during a qualifier.
This is the 76th year of the Washington Open, which is the oldest pro championship in the state. The field of 168 will be trimmed to the top 65 pros and any amateurs within that range after Tuesday's round for Wednesday's final round.
Meridian Valley is best known as the site of the LPGA Safeco Classic during the 1980s and 1990s. The course will play at 6,652 yards for the event.
Hole No. 1 — 7:30 a.m. - Ken Wooten, Willows Run; Rich Friend, Tacoma G{CC} Brad Faller (amateur), Sahalee; 7:39 - Stu Aden, Tumwater Valley; Troy Helseth, Cross Creek; John Bracken (am) Broadmoor; 7:48 - Casey McCoy, Trails End; Chuck DaSilva, Rock Creek; Dominic Marconi, Newcastle; 7:57 - Joe Puetz, Puetz Golf; Mike Reasor, Aldarra; Gary Sherrell (am), Meridian Valley; 8:06 - Ron Rawls, Illahe Hills; Chris Garrison, Waverley; Steven Stensland, Vashon; 8:15 - Bill Porter, Lakeview; Keith Liedes, First Tee; Greg Manley, Meridian Valley; 8:24 - Chuck Milne, Vanco Range; Jeff Coston, Semiahmoo; Brian Hughes (am), Pumpkin Ridge; 8:33 - John Bowen, Heron Lakes; Dan Hixson, Hixon Golf Design; Julius Jorgensen, Jorgensen Golf; 8:42 - Don Rasmussen, Washington National; Devin Loudon, NW Golf Range; Joe Colello (am), Indian Summer; 8:51 - Tracy Vest, The Reserve; Tom Staskus, Capitol City; Gordy Graybeal, Maplewood; 9:00 - Mike Montgomery, Tacoma C{GC} Charles Waggoner, Riverbend; Kenny Boyd, Glendale; 9:09 - Ron Stull, Sand Pt.; Tad Davis, Kent; Tom Herrick (am), Indian Summer; 9:18 - Mike Fosnick, Tacoma Firs; Mark Olson, Tyee Valley; Tom Phillips (am), Aldarra; 9:27 - Joe Carranza, Bothell; Bill Shea, Dungeness; Darrin Mithun (am), Interbay.
12:30 - Chris Curran, MeadowWood; Chris Rogers, The Reserve; Lax Stamey (am), Everett G{CC} 12:39 - David Wetli, North Shore; Martin Leith, Seattle; Brad Mombert, Quail Run; 12:48 - Brent Murray, Oswego Lake; Tom Sovay, Harbour Pointe; Rick Acarregui, Meridian Valley; 12:57 - Keith Henderson, Semiahmoo; Jim Bennett, Southcenter; Bruce Richards (am), Seattle GC; 1:06 - Bryan Tunstill, Columbia-Edgewater; Mike Swingle, Maxfli Golf; Lindsey Taft, TPC Snoqualmie Ridge; 1:15 - Scott Krieger, Broadmoor; Jeff Gove, PGA Tour-Inglewood; Jeff Marsh, Evergreen Golf; 1:24 - Fred Haney, The Reserve; Scott Williams, Glendale; Karl Smith (am), Canterwood; 1:33 - Wade Iacolucci, Druids Glen; Ted Wurtz, Port Ludlow; K.C. Anderson, Willows Run; 1:42 - Brett Wilkinson, Riverbend; John Morgan, Tumwater Valley; Paul Houvener (am), Mill Creek; 1:51 - Mike Early, Port Townsend; Mark Keating, Shadow Hills; Randy Jensen, Lakeland Village; 2:00 - Jim Pike, Sahalee; Rick Larson, Tall Chief; Tom Mueller, Meadowmeer; 2:09 - Tim Hval, Bandon Dunes; Craig Hunter, Aldarra; Jim Strickland (am), Whisper Rock; 2:18 - John Hildebrand, Kitsap; Tim Krumnow, TWK Sports and Golf; Doug Nelson (am), Pleasant Valley; 2:27 - Mark Rashall, Harbour Pointe; Brian Coury, Tam O’Shanter; Ryan Heidy (am), Fairwood.
10th hole — 7:30 - Craig Moore, Sahalee; Robert Gelinas, Tacoma Firs; Kevin Burnett (am), Riverbend; 7:39 - Bruce Christy, Legion Memorial; Paul Cobleigh, Suntides; Greg Ott (am), Riverbend; 7:48 - Bart Turchin, Glen Acres; Mike Toll, Maplewood; Brian Davis, Bayshore; 7:57 - Rand (cq) Veal, Bothell; Bruce Benenati, Super Range; Travis Allen (am), Meridian Valley; 8:06 - Don Montague, Mill Creek; Pat Fitzsimons, The Palms; John Kawasoe, Astoria; 8:15 - Todd Erwin, Performance Golf; Kene Bensel, Lake Padden; Keith Coleman, Harbour Pointe; 8:24 - Ron Gibbons, Arrowhead; Steve Bowen, Royal Oaks; Josh Immordino (am), Lake Padden; 8:33 - Chris Mitchell, Portland; Steve Prugh, Manito; Scott Shagool, The Links; 8:42 - Doug Campbell, Auburn; Scott A. Smith, Olympia; David Farnam (am), Druids Glen; 8:51 - Rick Denholm, Indian Summer; Al Patterson, Canterwood; Kelly O’Mera, Sunland; 9:00 - Mike Barnett, Golf Zone; Craig Schuh, Deer Park; Chris Bensel, Lake Padden; 9:09 - Michael White, All Golf at Sunset; Tony Wilkins, Rainier; Derek Berg (am), UW, Carnation; 9:18: Mark Robertson, Vancouver, Wa.; Doug Doxsie, Seattle GC; Field Kline (am), Canterwood; 9:27 - Chris Hughes, Fairwood; Jerry Johnson, Monroe; Kyle Stanley (am), Canterwood. 12:30 - Jeff Tachell, Willows Run; Jeff Mashos, Salem; Tom Boe (am), Fairwood; 12:39 - Gary Lindeblad, Indian Canyon; Curt Roddewig, Twin Rivers; Ken Jenson (am), Jackson Park; 12:48 - Mike Gove, Inglewood; Randy Fossum, Lynnwood; Dan Shaw, Lake Stevens; 12:57 - Jim VonLossow, Von’s Golf; Jason Lehtola, Hamilton; Brian Nosler (am), Pumpkin Ridge; 1:06 - Mark Bolton, Redtail; Ryan Malby, Village Greens; Elwin Fanning, Marysville; 1:15 - Jon Pilcher, Seattle GC; John McComish, Salem; Louie Runge, Willapa Harbor; 1:24 - Michael Combs, Tri-Cities; Bruce Stewart, Arrowhead; Ryan Whitaker (am), Ellensburg; 1:33 - Scott Leritz, Oregon GC; Jon Knight, Three Rivers; Tom Mulka, Fairbanks; 1:42 - Bob Janes, Trysting Tree; Mark Bass, Willows Run; Joe Brennan (am), Meridian Valley; 1:51 - Keith Johnson, Lake Spanaway; Joe Sievers, Interbay; Kris Runge, North Shore; 2:00 - David Bobillot, Skagit; David Tunkkari, Wing Point; Mark Gardner, Qualchan; 2:09 - Mike Kasch, Horn Rapids; Wayne Clark, Aspen Lakes; Chad Warford (am), Meridian Valley; 2:18 - Paul Ito, Whidbey; Brett Eaton, Homestead; Roger Thorn (am), Aldarra; 2:27 - Bruce Plummer, Battle Creek; Wesley Perrault, Cedarcrest; Steve Belt (am), Forest Hills.