Best senior men's golfers visit Whidbey

It was quite the week for local golf enthusiasts.

Whidbey Golf and Country Club played host to one of the premier events in the state Monday through Wednesday, holding the 17th Annual Washington State Golf Association’s Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

“We’d like to think that these are probably the best seniors in the state competing,” director of rules and competition for the WSGA, Troy Andrew said.

Close to 80 golfers from every corner of Washington took part in the event, all duking it out for the state senior amateur champion title. Jeff Remington of Sahalee Country Club went on to win the event, shooting three over par, totaling 219 for the three days.

Although many of the golfers came from afar, WGCC did have two representatives of its own. Oak Harbor’s Marv Seelye finished tied for 31st place, shooting a 20 over par. The other local golfer, Frank Murphy, finished in 67th place with a three day total of 46 over par.

The WSGA, which holds five major championships a year at different locations, couldn’t have been happier with their choice of the 6,259-yard, par 72 Whidbey course for this year’s tournament.

“We enjoy being out here,” Andrew said. “I think it’s the perfect setup for the seniors, it’s not too long, yet it’s still really challenging for the players.”

This was the second major amateur event in the last three years for WGCC, who hosted a womens best ball tournament in 2001.

“The club’s always been real good about supporting amateur golf,” WGCC pro Mike Fields said.

With the success of this week’s tournament and other recent events, this is a trend Fields would like to see continue.

“We’re always looking for ways to expose Oak Harbor and the country club to the people around the state of Washington,” he said.

Washington Senior Amateur

Top 5 places and local finishers: 1. Jeff Remington 78-69-72-219, Sahalee C.C.; T2. Kent Brown 74-74-72-220, Dominion Meadows G.C.; T2. Rick Weihe 72-73-75-220, Bellingham G. & C.C.; 4. Jim Taggard 75-72-74-221, Semi Ah Moo G.&C.C.; T5. Ron Janney 76-72-77-225, Wandarmere G.C.; T5. Micahel Jonson 79-76-70-225, Sahalee C.C.; Jack Leonard 75-72-78-225, Spokane C.C.; T31. Marv Seelye 76-80-80-236, Whidbey G. & C.C.; 67. Frank Murphy 90-85-87-262, Whidbey G. & C.C.

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