PNW PGA Professional Championship (PPC)/2008
Chris Van der Velde dominates the PGA Professional Championship
By Molly Cooper
The 2008 Pacific Northwest Section PGA Professional Championship was held at Tetherow GC in Bend, Oregon where host professional Chris Van der Velde ran away with the title after winning by four strokes over defending champion Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley CC.
Chuck Milne of Vanco Driving Range led after the first round with a solid score of two under par 70 in the heavy winds up to 26 mph. He led by one stroke over Van der Velde and Branden Thompson of Chehalem Glenn GC.
The second round had Van der Velde take a two stroke lead over defending champion Brian Thornton. It was obvious that for Van der Velde to win this championship, he would have to battle a slew of former champions near the top of the leader board; Mark Gardner from The Creek at Qualchan GC (1988), Rob Gibbons of Arrowhead GC (1989), Keith Coleman of Harbour Pointe GC and Ryan Malby of Village Greens GC (2006). Van der Velde started the final round a little bumpy with bogies on the front but some solid birdies on the back nine charged him ahead of Thornton and the rest of the field to capture his first Pacific Northwest PGA Section championship.
Tetherow Golf Club was designed by David McLay and opened to rave reviews on July 25th. Among McLay’s credits is Bandon Dunes, consistently named by Golf Magazine, Golf Digest and Golf Week as one of the world’s best. Chris Van der Velde, Brian Thornton, Chris Mitchell, Ryan Benzel, Rob Gibbons and Mark Gardner all qualified for the 42nd National PGA Professional Championship, June 28-July 1, 2009 at Twin Warriors Golf Club and Santa Ana Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Should any player not be able to attend, Martin Chuck will serve as the first alternate and Todd O’Neal will act as second alternate. Special thanks go to Martin Chuck, Caleb Anderson, Chris Van der Velde and their staff at Tetherow GC for hosting this years event, Dick Iverson, Speedy Nash, Brad Racine, Jim Roberts, Mike Swingle and Ren Weaver of Titleist-Footjoy-Cobra, and Erwin Huffer and Greg Collins of Club Car for their sponsorship.