Northwest Open Invitational – Tournament Results

Derek Barron – winner; John Thorsnes, Wine Valley Director of Golf; Derek Bayley – low amateur
Derek Barron – winner; John Thorsnes, Wine Valley Director of Golf; Derek Bayley – low amateur

Professional Apprentice Derek Barron of Tacoma Golf Center came back to capture the 2015 Northwest Open Invitational at Wine Valley GC after a shaky front nine with four birdies in a row. The 2014 Oregon Open Invitational Champion was three over after the turn and had given up the lead to amateur Derek Bayley after 12 holes.  Bayley was six under for the day at that point.   Barron then went on his birdie streak and Bayley could only finish even over his last six.  Barron set a new Northwest Open Invitational record of 199, 17 under par. Bayley took home low amateur honors at 202. Professional Brady Sharp of Walla Walla CC remained in solo third at 203.

Congratulations to PGA Apprentice Ryan Dahl from Horn Rapids GC for his rare double eagle on #15 at Wine Valley.

The history of the Northwest Open is as significant as the history of golf in the Pacific Northwest.  The list of past champions reads like a who’s who in Pacific Northwest Golf.  In fact, fifteen members of the Pacific Northwest Section’s Hall of Fame are Northwest Open Champions.

The early years were dominated by Seattle Golf Club’s Robert Johnstone (who won 8 of the first 10 events) and “Long Jim” Barnes.  Barnes, the professional at Tacoma C&GC from 1911 – 1915, won the first two PGA Championships (1916, 1919) in addition to the 1921 U.S. Open and the 1925 British Open! Spokane’s Marvin “Bud” Ward captured six championships over a 22 year span, five as an amateur and his last as a professional.  Bud was also a National Amateur champion and may have won a few more but for the lack of championships during WWII.

Wine Valley Golf Club, which opened in April of 2009, has been rated 5th on Golfweek’s Best New Courses. To produce Golfweek’s Best New Courses list, a nationwide team of more than 475 evaluators rated the layouts on the basis of 10 criteria, including routing, conditioning, variety and memorability of holes. The result is an average of scores, which then dictates a course’s overall ranking.

This stunning Dan Hixson design unfolds on a grand scale, playing over rolling hills in the shadow of the Blue Mountains. Wine Valley GC had broad fairways, dramatic bunkers, and bold, undulating putting surfaces.

To view past champions of the Northwest Open Invitational, CLICK HERE.

Final results can be found at https://www.pnwpga.com/results/resultsnwo15.html

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