Mill Creek’s Benzel shoots 66 to move into third place at Washington Open

Published 11:45 pm Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Ryan Benzel, the new head pro at Mill Creek Country Club, put up the top score of the day with a sizzling 5-under-par 66 on Tuesday to move into third place, one shot back of co-leaders Derek Berg and Brian Nosler, through two rounds of the Washington Open golf tournament at Bellevue’s Glendale Country Club.

Berg, an amateur from Redmond’s Trilogy Golf Club and a former University of Washington golfer, and Nosler, an assistant pro from Langdon Farms Golf Club in Aurora, Ore., are tied for the lead heading into today’s final round at 4-under-par 138. Benzel, who opened with a 2-over 73 on Monday, is at 3-under 139.

First-round leader Keith Coleman, an assistant pro and head superintendent at Mukilteo’s Harbour Point Golf Course, slipped to a 77 on Tuesday and is tied for 10th at 1-over 143.

One stroke back is amateur Alex Stamey of Everett Golf and Country Club, a three-time Snohomish County Amateur champion, at 2-over 142.

For full results, see Page C6.