Brian Thornton wins Oregon Open Invitational
Bend, OR – Broken Top Club, 6,922 yards, Purse – $70,000; Winner $7,000
Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley CC (Kent, WA) fashioned a bogey free, seven birdie final round to win the Oregon Open Invitational by two shots over Corey Prugh of Manito G&CC (Spokane). Thornton adds the Oregon Open to his Washington Open and Northwest Open crowns and took home the $7,000 first prize. Chris Van der Velde of Tetherow GC (Bend, OR) made the cut on the number and fired a course record 63 thanks to nine birdies. Van der Velde passed 61 players to finish tied for eleventh. Defending Champion Reid Martin took home low amateur honors at 213, three under par. The Kids Center of Bend was the beneficiary of the championship.
The Oregon Open Invitational took place at Broken Top Club in Bend, OR. 192 PNW PGA Professional and amateurs vyed for the title of Oregon Open Champion. In addition to the individual title, there is a 36 hole (best 2 of 4 net) team competition and pro-am four-ball. The second round was followed by a cut and repairing of the top 70 players and ties.
This championship dates back to 1905 when sheep mowed the fairways at Waverley CC, George Smith, a Scot from Oakland, CA won the Oregon Open’s inaugural championship including a course record 74. Little did he know that some of golf’s most prestigious names were to follow in his footsteps such as Tommy Armour, Horton Smith, Chuck Congdon, Bob Duden, Bill Eggers, Jerry Mowlds, Pat Fitzsimons, Rick Acton, Peter Jacobsen, Jeff Coston, and Mike Davis. And only three men have won the title three or more times; Bill Porter (3), Rick Acton (4), and Bob Duden (8). The tournament scoring record is held by Brian Nosler at 198, set in 2009 at Brasada Ranch .
The official charity of the Oregon Open Invitational is Kids Center. Founded in 1994 by the community, KIDS Center works together with law enforcement, medical providers and social service agencies to create a supportive response to child abuse through a multi-disciplinary team approach. They serve Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson county along with the Warm Springs Reservation at our Bend center. To learn more about the charity or to make a donation, please go to https://www.kidscenter.org