Oregon golfer leads state open
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Bob Rannow, the pro at Sand Pines Golf Links in Florence, Ore., leads the Washington Open Invitational by one stroke entering today's third and final round at the Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent.
Rannow shot a 3-under-par 69 yesterday for a two-day total of 140. He leads Chris Griffin, Keith Coleman and Jason Brubaker by one stroke.
Coleman, the tournament's 1997 winner, also shot a 3-under 69 yesterday that included an eagle 3 on the final hole when he hit a 3-wood 270 yards over trees to 3 feet from the pin.
It was Coleman's second straight day with an eagle. He holed a 9-iron from 157 yards on the par-4 fifth hole Monday, when he shot 72.
Coleman is a rarity in golf because he is the superintendent at the public Harbour Pointe Golf Club in Mukilteo and also has earned a Class A PGA club-pro credential.
Griffin, an assistant pro at Tacoma Country and Golf Club, opened with a 68 Monday then shot a 1-over 73 yesterday.
"I struggled my way around the golf course," he said.
The strongest part of Griffin's game in this tournament has been his drives.
"I've been driving the ball really well," he said. "That's a real key to playing this golf course — getting the ball in the fairway."
Brubaker, a former Montana pro now living in Seattle, shot 72 yesterday.
Two strokes back at 142 were Sahalee pro Jim Pike and Tyee Valley pro Mark Olson.
Chuck Milne, who won the tournament at Meridian Valley in 1976 with a record 202, was at 143 with Tim McElhinny of Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
Former PGA Tour pro Lon Hinkle was in a group of five at 144.
Defending champion Todd Erwin, the pro at the Performance Golf Driving Range in Gig Harbor, was six strokes back after a second straight 73. Jeff Coston, three-time winner of the tournament, shot 74 and was seven strokes off the lead.
The leaders were to tee off at 11:53 a.m. today. Admission is free and spectators usually can walk along behind the golfers and don't have to stay on the sides of fairways.
Former UW coach dies
Ray Bennett, who coached golf at the University of Washington from 1957 to 1969, died Saturday at his home in Seattle at the age of 81.
Bennett also was the head golf pro at Rainier Golf and Country Club for 22 years and an assistant pro at Broadmoor for 15 years. He guided golf tours to Hawaii and Europe for 25 years.
He is survived by wife Dorothy Bennett of Seattle. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Magnolia United Church of Christ, 3555 W. McGraw St.
Washington Open leaderboard
At Kent, WA
(Played at the 6,552 yard, par 72, Meridian Valley CC.)
| Bob Rannow, Sandpines GL | 140 |
| Chris Griffin, Tacoma C&GC | 141 |
| Jason Brubaker, Seattle, WA | 141 |
| Keith Coleman, Harbour Pointe GC | 141 |
| Jim Pike, Sahalee CC | 142 |
| Mark Olson, Tyee Valley GC | 142 |
| Tim McElhinny, Tumwater Valley GC | 143 |
| Chuck Milne, Vanco Driving Range | 143 |
| Lon Hinkle, Eagle Bend | 144 |
| Billy Raschko, Spring Hill CC | 144 |
| Ryan Malby, Village Greens GC | 144 |
| Gregory Hull, Meridian Valley CC | 144 |
| Scott Johnson, Horn Rapids GC | 144 |
| Ryan Benzel, Seattle GC | 145 |
| Greg Manley, Meridian Valley CC | 145 |
| Bart Turchin, Glen Acres CC | 145 |
| Alex Stamey, Everett G&CC | 145 |
| Chris Morrow, Tumwater Valley GC | 145 |
| Jeff Tachell, Willows Run GC | 145 |
| Field Kline, Tumwater Valley GC | 146 |
| Skylar Wicklander, Classic GC | 146 |
| Jeff Glodt, Corvallis CC | 146 |
| Doug Doxsie, Seattle GC | 146 |
| Brad Mombert, Bend G&CC | 146 |
| Todd Erwin, Performance Golf | 146 |
| Brett Eaton, Homestead Farms | 146 |
| Eric Berry, Inglewood GC | 147 |
| Jeff Coston, Semiahmoo G&CC | 147 |
| Dan Whitaker, Ellensburg GC | 147 |
| Bill Levinson, Meridian Valley CC | 147 |
| Derek Berg, Trilogy GC | 147 |
| Wayne Carter, Missing Link GC | 147 |
| Chuck DaSilva, Rock Creek CC | 147 |
| Scott Krieger, Broadmoor GC | 147 |
| K.C. Anderson, Bellevue GC | 147 |
| Casey McCoy, Hood River G&CC | 147 |
| Louie Runge, Willapa Harbor GC | 148 |
| Jeff Marsh, Evergreen Golf Center | 148 |
| Erik Hanson, Sahalee CC | 148 |
| Ronnie Espedal, Grays Harbor CC | 148 |
| Mike Fields, Lake Padden GC | 148 |
| Tony Robydek, Canterwood G&CC | 148 |
| Tracy Vest, The Oregon GC | 148 |
| Matt Bunn, The Highlands G&CC | 148 |
| Scott Williams, Glendale CC | 148 |
| John Bowen, Heron Lakes GC | 149 |
| Mike Swingle, Taylor Made-adidas Golf | 149 |
| Bo Stephan, Homestead Farms | 149 |
| Guy Puddefoot, Skamania Lodge GC | 149 |