Local golfers watch positions slip in favorable conditions

MOSES LAKE — As strong winds and searing heat subsided, so did high scores at the second half of the 79th Washington State Golf Association Men's Amateur Championship. Most scores seemed to reflect the ideal weather as more golfers shot under par on Friday.

Alex Prugh of Spokane improved his lead, shooting 2-under 70 Thursday and 3 under 69 on Friday. His 10-under lead was enough to with the 2005 Amateur title.

Bart Patitucci of Othello watched his lead slip from first position going into Thursday to 25th on Friday. Patitucci struggled on the 13th hole Thursday, hitting 2 OB's and finishing with an 11 on the par four hole. He ended the day shooting 9-over 81.

"It was just lack of concentration," Patitucci said. "I had one bad hole."

Patitucci said he blames himself for the hole, but he felt the other players in his group weren't courteous after they had made their shots.

"It kind of didn't help when they hit bad shots and were walking off the tee," Patitucci said. "I should have backed off and did my pre-shot routine. I wasn't concentrating."

Although he finished the tournament 11-over, Patitucci stayed positive about his finish.

"I didn't feel pressure at all the whole week," Patitucci said. "It was fun. The course was set up hard, so I like the challenge."

Soon to enter his senior year, Patitucci still has one year of high school golf to look forward to, but he plans to play the tournament next year.

Brock Johnson and Kirk Phillips of Moses Lake finished the championship 50th and 58th respectively.

Johnson finished strong on Friday with a 1-under 70 and 23-over for the tournament.

A disappointed Phillips finished Friday 10-over 82 and 34-over for the tournament. He slipped eight spots, from 50th entering Thursday's play.

"I was looking forward to two good rounds after I made the cut Thursday," Phillips said. "The wind had quit and the heat let up and I just didn't hit the ball as well as I'd liked too. That course is the type that if your not hitting the ball solid off the tee and not hitting greens in regulation then it's easy to get big numbers."

It was Phillips's first year in the Men's Amateur Championship. He said he hopes to compete in next year's.

"I took advantage of it being here in town, right in my back yard. I just live a few minutes away," Phillips said. "I would love to be able to travel and compete more at these tournaments."

To see all the scores and rankings, visit www.thewsga.org.