PGA Professional Mitch Runge, Head Professional, and Shane Prante, Assistant Professional from The Home Course in DuPont, WA, clinched victory in the PNW PGA Pro-Assistant Championship by a mere stroke. Their collective prowess culminated in an impressive 17-under par four-ball score over the two-day tournament, held on March 18-19, 2024. Basking in spring sunshine and enjoying temperatures ranging from the high 50s to the lower 60s, players were treated to optimal conditions for a riveting competition at beautiful Tacoma Country & Golf Club.
Entering the final round, 6 duos were tied for first and 23 were within 2 shots of the lead. Runge and Prante combined for 10 birdies in the final round to secure their victory and earn the $5,000 winners check. This is the first time Runge and Prante have won this event as partners. Runge previously won this championship in 2022 while Prante won in 2017.
The team hailing from Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, OR, led by Director of Instruction Scott Erdmann and Assistant Professional Brady Sharp, secured second place honors.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our esteemed sponsors. We extend our gratitude to Farmers Insurance – Jared Bouchey Agency, our title sponsor for the third consecutive year. Additionally, we warmly welcome back Sally Schmitz representing Bushnell Golf and Bryan Dickson of Sterling Cut Glass. We are proud to introduce Jake Sowby from Titleist and Jake Gordon, Zac Keener and Dathan Wong from Noteefy as our presenting sponsors. We are equally appreciative of the continued support from Matt Pollitt and Les Veres of PTE Golf, and Patrick Coughlin and Mitch Bourgault of GT Golf Supplies, serving as supporting sponsors.
The PNW PGA Pro-Assistant Championship is a testament to the camaraderie and skill displayed by golf professionals. This two-man team competition pairs a head golf professional with their assistant golf professional, engaging in a four-ball format that showcases their collective talent and strategic acumen on the course.
CLICK HERE to view the Pro-Assistant Championship results
History of the Championship
In 1992, the Pacific Northwest Pro-Assistant Championship began with an exciting showdown between Progress Downs’ Jerry Minor and Ralph West and Royal Oaks’ Steve Bowen and Michael Wilkerson, stretching to an intense seven-hole sudden-death playoff at Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Despite both teams firing remarkable 14-under scores, the playoff remained deadlocked as birdie putts stubbornly refused to find the cup. Fast forward to 1995, where the dynamic duo of Scott Williams and Mike Barnett from Redwood Golf Center etched their names into history books, setting an enduring tournament record with a blistering 18-under 126 at McCormick Woods GC, securing victory by a commanding three-stroke margin. Since its inception, this championship has become a beacon of camaraderie between Head Professionals and their Assistants, earning its place as one of the most cherished events in the Pacific Northwest Section PGA calendar. Notable moments continued to shape its legacy, such as in 2008 when Head PGA Professional Steve Prugh and his Assistant Corey Prugh etched their names in history as the first father-son duo to seize the coveted title, further cementing the tournament’s rich history and significance.
CLICK HERE to view past team champions of this event.
Tacoma C&GC
Tacoma Golf Club was founded in 1894 when a group of a dozen Scotsmen and Englishmen, many of them employees of the London based firm of Balfour, Guthrie, & Co., sought to play the game they left behind in their homelands. The group was led by Alexander Baillie, an indomitable Scotsman who would pioneer golf in the Pacific Northwest. By 1900 Tacoma Golf Club had grown to 180 members and it became apparent that a new location and a larger clubhouse were needed to accommodate the growing membership. On October 18, 1904, the club acquired the seven-acre Lehman estate plus 160 acres of surrounding property on the eastern shore of American Lake, its current location. At the time, this location was a popular destination, operating as the Tacoma Country Club, for sunbathers, swimmers, and other non-golf activities. On January 21, 1905, the two clubs merged to become the Tacoma Country and Golf Club.