Oregonian takes 1-shot lead at Wash. Open

Published 8:52 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Birk Nelson, the head pro at Diamond Woods Golf Course in Monroe, Ore., fired a second-round 4-under-par 68, one stroke off the low round of the day, to take a one-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the 83rd annual Washington Open golf tournament at Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent.

Nelson has a two-round total of 6-under 138, and leads first-round leader Derek Berg, an amateur, and Louie Runge, the head pro at Willapa Harbor Golf Course.

Berg, the 2008 state open runner-up, shot an even-par 72 in the second round, while Runge had a 5-under 67 for the low round of the day. Both are at 139.

Brian Nosler, of the Vanco Driving Range in Vancouver, the 2008 winner, is one of three golfers tied for fourth at 4-under 140.

Tom Sovay, a former teaching pro at Mukilteo’s Harbour Pointe Golf Course, is one of five golfers tied for 15th at 1-over 145 after a 2-over 74.

Keith Coleman, an assistant pro and head superintendent at Harbour Pointe, and the 1997 and 2004 champion, moved into an eight-way tie for 23rd at 3-over 147 after a 1-over 73.

Ryan Benzel, a teaching pro at Marysville’s Battle Creek Golf Course who was fourth last year, slipped to a second-round 77 and is tied for 46th at 6-over 150.

Burton tied for 4th at PNGA

Bob Burton of Everett, the first-round leader, slipped to a 10-over 82 on the second and final day of stroke-play qualifying, but still finished tied for fourth heading into match play at the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Master-40 Amateur Championship in Chase, B.C. Burton had a two-day total of 8-over-par 152.

Tuesday’s round was played in high winds that made scoring difficult.

The top 32 golfers advance to the match-play portion of the tournament, which begins today. Also moving on to match play was Mike Seek of Mukilteo, who was tied for 30th after two rounds of stroke play.