May 25, 2006
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
Relaxed amateur wins Open
By Craig Smith, Seattle Times staff reporter
GIG HARBOR -- Former Western Washington University All-America golfer Josh Immordino, a 24-year-old amateur from Riverbend Golf Course in Kent, won the Washington Open Invitational Wednesday by hitting one fewer tree than Tony Robydek on the fourth playoff hole.
Robydek, 35, an assistant pro at the host Canterwood Golf and Country Club, had forced the playoff by dramatically getting up and down from the front bunker on the 18th hole, sinking a 12-foot birdie putt. Immordino had bogeyed the 18th, missing a 7-foot par putt.
After three playoff holes, Robydek pulled his drive "just a tiny bit" on the par-4 13th hole into a dogwood tree about 120 yards from the tee.
Robydek gambled on his next shot and wound up hitting into a cedar tree 30 yards ahead. From there, he hit into a greenside bunker and wound up two-putting from 40 feet for a double-bogey six.
Immordino's second shot clipped a Douglas fir branch and he was left 15 yards off the green. He chipped to 6 feet and two-putted for the win.
It was the first playoff in the tournament since 1993. Immordino is the third amateur since 1986 to win the tournament. He is allowed $650 in winnings as an amateur and Robydek got the first-place check of $5,000.
"This is a huge stepping stone just in confidence," said Immordino, a Kentwood High School graduate who was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American at Western. "If I can win something like this, I feel I can play on the next level."
He said he is interested in turning pro at the end of the summer.
Immordino said his caddie, Eric Hinrichs, an assistant pro at Riverbend, where Immordino works and plays, kept him relaxed throughout the final day.
"He kept me really calm," Immordino said. "If you saw us out there, we were laughing and joking."
Immordino had entered the day four strokes behind the leader after two rounds, fellow amateur Jim McNelis, the Canterwood club champion.
McNelis, 49, an Alaska Airlines pilot, shot 5-over 77 and finished fifth at 219. A double-bogey six on the 15th hole took him out of contention.
Brian Thornton, assistant at Meridian Valley, and Ryan Benzel, assistant at Seattle Golf Club, tied for third at 218.
Immordino, winner of last summer's Seattle Amateur, shot a final-round 71 and Robydek shot an even-par 72 to finish tied at 1-over 217.
Robydek had a chance to shut the door on the first playoff hole, No. 10, but missed an 8-foot birdie putt. He hit his tee shot on No. 11 into trees but recovered with an approach shot through a high opening between three trees onto the green and two-putted from 30 feet.
Both golfers had routine pars on the par-3 12th hole and the match was settled on No. 13.
Immordino was a third-team All-America at Western in 2002 when he placed fifth at the NCAA II National Championship and again in 2005. He received honorable mention recognition in 2003.
On Tuesday, two former Western golfers, Kelly White and Sarah Cooper, won the seventh annual Washington State Golf Association Women's Best Ball Championship at the Yakima Country Club in Yakima. They shot 8-under 64 in the final round with eight birdies, including the last four holes. Their two-round total was 11-under 133.
White was an honorable mention All-America at Western in 2002 and 2003, placing 10th at nationals as a senior.
Washington Open Invitational
(Played at the 6,874 yard, par 72, Canterwood Golf & Country Club.)
(a-amateur)
Josh Immordino (a) 72-74-71 -- 217Tony Robydek 70-75-72 -- 217Brian Thornton 74-72-72 -- 218Ryan Benzel 75-71-72 -- 218Jim McNelis (a) 74-68-77 -- 219Jeff Coston 75-72-73 -- 220Steve Prugh 73-76-72 -- 221Mike Gove 74-74-74 -- 222Brian Coury 72-76-74 -- 222Chris Mitchell 77-71-74 -- 222Todd Erwin 75-71-76 -- 222Richard Lee (a) 71-79-72 -- 222Zack Shriver (a) 76-74-72 -- 222Chris Griffin 81-69-72 -- 222Bob Rannow 72-76-75 -- 223Tom Mueller 77-75-71 -- 223Mike Roters 71-75-77 -- 223Rob Gibbons 72-80-71 -- 223Erik Hanson (a) 78-75-71 -- 224Rich Friend 76-74-74 -- 224Louie Runge 77-74-73 -- 224Birk Nelson 77-70-78 -- 225Brad Leiken 77-71-77 -- 225Michael Combs 74-74-77 -- 225Fred Haney 78-73-74 -- 225Keith Crimp (a) 73-78-74 -- 225Justin Johnson (a) 73-76-77 -- 226Tom Brandes (a) 78-75-73 -- 226Tom Sovay, Trilogy 77-75-74 -- 226Chuck Milne 72-79-75 -- 226Mike Schoner 82-76-69 -- 227Paul Houvener (a) 79-73-75 -- 227Matt Ristine (a) 77-71-79 -- 227Paul Bonorden (a) 78-78-71 -- 227Brandon Richardson 76-73-78 -- 227Jeff Tachell 71-79-77 -- 227Tyler Sweet 77-77-73 -- 227
