Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, May 22, 2008

GOLF: Oregon's Nosler wins Washington Open

Second-round leader and Mill Creek C.C. head pro Ryan Benzel finishes fourth.

By Rich Myhre
Herald Writer

 BELLEVUE -- Brian Nosler, an assistant pro from Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Ore., birdied the first playoff hole Wednesday to win the Washington Open golf tournament at Glendale Country Club.

Nosler was tied through 54 holes with amateur Derek Berg from Redmond's Trilogy Golf Club and a former University of Washington golfer. On the playoff hole, the 512-yard, par-5 No. 18, Nosler knocked his second shot about 8 feet from the pin while Berg pulled his approach into a large pond left of the green.

Nosler two-putted for the win and the winner's check of $5,000. He and Berg had finished with 54-hole totals of 6-under-par 207.

Third place went to Tim Feenstra, an assistant pro from Seattle's Broadmoor Golf Club and the defending champion. who was at 5-under 208.

Ryan Benzel, the new head pro at Mill Creek Country Club, was fourth at 4-under 209 after a final-round 70. Benzel, who leaped into contention with a second-round 66 -- which tied for the lowest round of the tournament -- played in the final round with Nosler and Berg.

Benzel shadowed the leaders throughout the round, but could never muster enough momentum to overcome his deficit.

The round, he said, "was kind of up and down. I was expecting a little bit more out of myself early in the round, and I didn't (come through) ... When I made a couple of birdies on the back nine, I felt like that brought me back in. I kept giving myself opportunities, but of course I didn't make them.

"But it was still fun to be in the heat of it," he said.

Benzel finished out of the playoff by two shots, and he had birdie putts of about 6 feet on No. 15 and 10 feet on No. 17 that lipped the cup, but wouldn't drop.

"I definitely had my chances. But I can't complain about missing putts, because I made a lot of putts that saved me, too," said Benzel, who earned $2,500.

Keith Coleman, an assistant pro and head superintendent from Mukilteo's Harbour Pointe Golf Course, closed with a 71 for a 1-over total of 214. He tied for 10th.

Alex Stamey, an amateur from Everett Golf and Country Club, tied for 30th after a final round of 4-over 75 for a 6-over total of 219.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA