Snohomish County Amateur will have different feel this year

Minus the defending champion and the traditional final-round course, this year’s Snohomish County Amateur golf tournament will have a different feel.

But there will still be plenty of history and bragging rights at stake when the 85th annual County Am tees off Saturday for the first of three rounds.

Among the primary storylines, can Alex Stamey of Mill Creek win his sixth County Am title for the most victories in tournament history? Stamey is tied with Bob Whisman, who died in March, with five County Am championships.

To win No. 6 this year “would be amazing,” said Stamey, who represents Everett Golf and Country Club. “I never thought I would be in the position to even think about having five, (let alone) getting six. So that’d be a great accomplishment and it’d be very special, no doubt about it.”

At 51, Stamey knows he has more good years of golf remaining, though “I definitely know that window (of opportunity) is closing,” he said. “But I still feel like I can compete in this tournament and possibly win it.”

Stamey had surgery in December to repair a detached ligament in his right elbow, and he was unable to swing a club for four months. After resuming play in April, “I get some spurts where I think I’m hitting the ball good again, but then things kind of hiccup. … I think I’m close. And if I can just get to that next level, then I think I can start doing well again.”

With victories in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2013, Stamey is one of six former champions in this year’s field. The others are Lance Kilbride of Mukilteo’s Harbour Pointe Golf Club (2010), Stephen Lee of Everett’s Super Range (2009), Jeff Strickland of Snohomish Golf Course (1996), Mike Seek of Everett G&CC (1990 and 1997) and Todd Tibke of Snohomish (1987, 1988, 1999 and 2001). A win by Tibke would tie him with Stamey and Whisman.

The low handicappers in this year’s field are Snohomish’s Brandon Agnew and Dylan Stensland, both with +2.4 handicaps. Others with plus handicaps are Harbour Pointe’s Joe Fryer (+2.3), Rudy Caparas of Mukilteo’s Jorgensen Golf (+2.0), Harbour Pointe’s Kevin Beavers (+1.0), Snohomish’s Tyler Claybrook (+1.0), Harbour Pointe’s Mark Strickland (+1.0), Sean Fitzpatrick of the Super Range (+1.0), Lee (+0.6), Anthony Guerrero of Marysville’s Battle Creek Golf Course (+0.1) and Everett G&CC’s Brian Barhanovich (+0.1).

Seventeen other players have handicaps between 0.0. and 1.9, so “there are good players playing and I think it’s going to be a good championship, just like it always is,” Stamey said.

One expected contender not in this year’s tournament is defending champ Kyle Cornett. A sophomore at Seattle University, where he plays on the golf team, Cornett is sitting out this year because of upcoming final exams.

The biggest change this year is the absence from the three-course rotation of Everett G&CC, a County Am site for the previous 84 tournaments and the usual final-round host. Everett G&CC dropped out this year because of concern over a court decision that questions whether clubs can host events open to the general public and still retain their private-club status.

The number of players in this year’s field has dropped by about one-third, which likely has a lot to do with Everett G&CC not being in the rotation. “Everyone did enjoy playing the country club and that’s definitely a reason for some not to play,” said tournament director Jason Himple, who is also an Everett G&CC assistant pro. “But we still have three very good (courses) this year.”

In another break with tradition this year, all three divisions will play the same course each day. The tournament opens at Snohomish on Saturday, moves to Harbour Pointe on Sunday, and closes at Everett’s Legion Memorial on Monday.

Since those are three of the longest courses in the county, “it’s going to be a great test of golf,” Himple said.

The first division, for players with handicaps from +2.4 to 4.9, will be in a low-gross competition. The second (5.1-9.9) and third (10.0-20.3) divisions will be in low-net competitions.

Starting times are at 6:36 a.m. on Saturday and 7:04 a.m., on Sunday. The tournament is open to the public and there is no admission charge.