Kemper wins Pac Am

Published 5:00 am Friday, October 3, 2003

SUNRIVER – Michael Kemper had already accomplished his goal. He made the championship round of the 2003 Northwest Dodge Dealers Pacific Amateur Classic.

But when he was playing that final round at Crosswater Club in Sunriver on Thursday, and realized he had a chance to win the whole tournament, the golfer from Beaverton finally began to feel the tension.

”I didn’t feel the pressure until my last three holes,” Kemper said, ”and I promptly bogeyed all three.”

But Kemper’s net score of 61 was enough to win the seventh annual Pacific Amateur. Kemper – a 12 handicap – had a gross score of 73. The tournament – which was played at eight different Central Oregon courses -rewards the player with the best net score.

To make it to the final round at Crosswater, golfers must finish in the top four of their respective flights. There were 17 flights this year, arranged by handicap, age and gender. A total of 609 golfers from throughout the nation and Canada competed all week, and Kemper had no idea he would finish on top.

”It’s beyond my wildest imagination,” said Kemper, 48. ”I was happy just to make the finals. To win is beyond belief.”

Kemper started the day strong, making a birdie on the 357-yard, par-4 fifth hole, his first hole in the shotgun start format. That helped his confidence, but the Crosswater course also had a certain familiarity for Kemper.

His home course is Pumpkin Ridge in Cornelius. Both courses were designed by Bob Cupp.

”That helped me a lot,” said Kemper, making his second appearance at the Pacific Amateur. ”I started off in a rhythm today and maintained it. I didn’t have a bad shot all day, really.”

The turning point for Kemper came at the 204-yard, par-3 17th, which he said has been a nemesis for him. He hit a 4-iron off the tee to within 15 feet of the cup, and birdied the hole.

”After that, I felt like I had a chance to win,” Kemper said.

That’s when his playing partners began treating Kemper like a big league pitcher with a no-hitter going into the ninth inning.

”We didn’t talk about it at all,” Kemper said. ”They knew I was close, by my score.”

Kemper played three rounds in the 70s this week. ”That’s way over my head,” he said. ”I’m sure it (his handicap) will go down.”

Jim Rodgers of Snohomish, Wash., was the second-place net finisher, shooting a 75 for a net score of 64. Denny Brooks of Modesto, Calif., took third place, netting a 65 after shooting a 75.

David Buker of Calgary, Alb., played the best golf of the day, carding a 71 in the scratch flight. He won a trophy as the low gross competitor.

Buker was happy to be at Crosswater this year after missing the final round by one stroke at last year’s Pac Am.

”I just snuck in this year,” said Buker. ”I was so disappointed last year because I heard so much about Crosswater … it was incredible.”

Buker ran into some trouble on the 471-yard, par-5 sixth hole. He hit two provisional balls, but ended up finding his original ball and making a birdie.

Buker began his 800-mile road trip back to Calgary shortly after accepting his trophy.

Local golfers also fared well at this year’s Pacific Amateur. Larry Kimmel of Bend placed first in Flight 6, shooting an 85 to net a 72. Craig Ladkin of Bend, also playing in Flight 6, carded a 79 after shooting a 93.

In the first (scratch) flight, Brett Morelock of Bend shot an 82, and Casey Jones, also of Bend, was second in Flight 3, netting a 72 from a gross score of 84.

James Smith of Sunriver competed in Flight 14 and shot an 88 to net a 75.