When I was a kid, the State Am was a big deal. It was the 80s and there were real newspapers covering the event with full-page pictures and multiple articles providing insight to the Anchorage spectacle. The winner each year got a lot of attention and was a bit of a hero to local golfers. […]
Reading rises above self-doubt to win Anchorage Open
On the driving range prior to the first round of the Anchorage Open, Kyle Reading told a story about a starry-eyed childhood version of himself who dreamed of showing up in an Alaskan golf tournament and making a name for himself. It took a little longer than he may have expected, but the 34-year-old father […]
2020 AGA schedule posted, and it includes a new, separate Ladies State Am
The 2020 tournament schedule for the Alaska Golf Association is posted on its website and there is one significant change. The women will get their own State Am. The women’s game in Alaska has been in sharp decline for years, but last summer presented a new low when there were no women in the State […]
The Birdie Juice cup draft is complete
Wes Masters and Casey Bieber picked their teams Wednesday night at Anchorage Golf Course and that means the second annual Birdie Juice Cup is ready to roll for Saturday and Sunday. Masters and Bieber used an alternating draft style, like kids on a playground used to use. Masters’ top picks include State Am champ Russell […]
The 2019 Birdie Juice Cup
We are one week away from the second annual Birdie Juice Cup, which is a match-play golf tournament sort of modeled off the Ryder Cup. Like the grand event between teams from the U.S. and Europe, this is a battle between two drafted teams of Alaskan amateurs. State Am champ Russell Marion is said to […]
Sanders in final prep for Senior Am
Greg Sanders got in his second practice round Friday at Old Chatham Golf Club, the site of the USGA Senior Am in Durham, North Carolina. The real competition kicks off Saturday. “I hit probably 10 greens in regulation today,” Sanders wrote in a text message. “Must improve!” Tough lies in the rough as pictured […]
Sumulong chases another club title
Benjie Sumulong, who won the Arctic Valley Open earlier this summer and will be defending champion in the Anchorage Open next weekend, marched a few steps closer to capturing his second straight Palmer club championship Saturday. Sumulong survived strong winds reported to be steadily between 20 and 40 mph at Palmer Golf Course to shoot […]
Could we have a sleeper at Settlers?
Erik Thompson is a true Alaskan golfer. He was raised in Alaska and won a state junior golf title many years ago. He also played some college golf in California, I believe he told me. He also told me he has decided to play in the Settlers Bay course championship this weekend. That’s a 36-hole […]
Baxter wins Alaska state match play title
Adam Baxter is the Alaska state match play champion. We were lucky enough to have semifinalist Kris Wood there as a caddie for Baxter on the final nine holes at Chena Bend golf course in Fairbanks. Wood was kind enough to message me some information. The following sums up what he wrote about Sunday’s final: […]
Milo Lines marches on to win Palmer Invitational
Milo Lines backed up his opening 67 with a 65 in Sunday’s final round at Palmer Golf Course, winning the Palmer Invitational by sevens shots. Lines is a professional golfer I know nothing about, but that means he did indeed win some money. I don’t know how much money. Isn’t this blog informative? I do […]