Moore, Itchoak, Stiver nab Birch Ridge Amateur titles

Aaron Moore, Patty Itchoak and Robert Stiver each won their first titles at the Alaska Sign Source 2025 Birch Ridge Amateur Championship on Saturday and Sunday in Soldotna.

In the men’s division, Moore and two-time defending champ Shane Sundberg, a 2023 graduate of Soldotna High School, both fired even-par 72 on Saturday.

Sunday, Moore carded a 66 to finish in front of Sundberg by three strokes. Boone Theiler was third at 156.

“I think I had 11 total putts on the front nine,” Moore said. “I was making almost every single putt I looked at on the front nine, so it was just a really good day putting on the greens.”

Moore will be returning to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix for his senior year with the powerhouse club golf team.

The Lopes have placed in the top two in five straight National Collegiate Club Golf Association championships.

Moore said he’s been spending time on the central Kenai Peninsula in the summer since he was about 4 years old, but that he’d only stay for a few weeks.

His parents, Jim and Kelly Moore, had moved to the central peninsula full-time by last summer, so Moore spent all summer here last year and needed to keep his game sharp.

“It’s definitely a different style of golf up here, but I love the greens here,” he said. “They’re really pretty perfect during the year, so it’s a nice place to come and be able to work on the shorter part of your game — the approaches to the greens.

“But it’s a fun course overall.”

Moore also found some good competition in Sundberg.

“Shane’s a really good player,” Moore said. “I was battling it out with him (Saturday) even after I didn’t have the best start to the tournament.

“I was proud of the way I came back and played really well today, kind of the way I know I can play on this course, and got the job done.”

Making the victory more special was his parents walking along for the round. He said that was the first time they saw him play golf since his senior year in high school.

“They’re always busy working, and I’m in different states playing tournaments, so our schedules never really align,” Moore said.

Moore also ends the summer with the Birch Ridge course record of 62, which he set with 10 birdies and no bogeys on July 4.

A few year ago, Nos. 3 and 12 were lengthened at the course, with the par changing from 70 to 72. Aaron Dexheimer had the course record of 62 on the par-70 course. Moore’s score is better in relation to par and happened on a longer course.

After graduating, Moore said the plan is to get a job in Arizona, but he also said he plans to visit his parents for a few weeks in the summer.

In the women’s division, Itchoak had a two-day total of 177 to top the 185 of Sally Hoagland. Hoagland got the top net score, so Sue Stein was awarded second gross at 196.

Itchoak said this is the first time she’s won a tournament like this. Last year, she was second at the tournament.

After moving to the central peninsula in 2020, Itchoak started playing with the ladies at Birch Ridge.

“It’s not competition, it’s camaraderie,” she said. “We’ve got good camaraderie.”

Itchoak had an 84 on the first day to build a 14-shot lead over Hoagland. Hoagland had an 87 to the 93 of Itchoak on the second day.

“Sally here, she came in and played today like she was supposed to play yesterday,” Itchoak said. “She really kicked some butt.”

Itchoak said the condition of the course made the tournament even more enjoyable.

“It’s been a pleasure to be on this course and play with all the girls,” she said. “Hopefully next year we’ll have more girls.”

Stiver fired an 81 on Saturday to trail Del Hoagland by three strokes for the lead.

Sunday, Stiver dropped a 76 — his best round ever at Birch Ridge — to finish three strokes ahead of Hoagland.

“I played with Del both days and that was fun,” Stiver said. “He’s just a good guy, and a good golfer.

“It’s fun to go out and get the competitive juices flowing.”

Stiver knew he was playing good early. He would later learn he was 2-under after nine holes, but at the time he told his playing partners not to tell him his score.

“I was 2-under and then you start thinking, Whoa, this could be my best score ever,” he said. “You can’t get ahead of your shot. Each shot is an individual shot and you don’t play ahead.”

Stiver has been in Alaska about 48 years. He moved to the central peninsula in 2011, retired in 2015 and started golfing two or three years later.

He had played a lot when he was a kid, and credited lessons from Birch Ridge co-owner Zac Cowan for helping him pick up the game again.

“I play as much as I can,” Stiver said. “In fact, we’re snow birds, and I golf all winter.”

In the men’s division, John Morris had low net at 132, while Andrew Shook was second at 138 and Ryan Kapp was third at 145.

In the ladies division, Sally Hoagland had the low net at 147, while Lisa Parker was second at 149.

In the senior division, Mike Hollingsworth had the low net at 138, while Steve Tachick was second at 142.

Alaska Sign Source 2025 Birch Ridge Amateur Championship

Saturday, Sunday

at Birch Ridge, Soldotna

Par 72

Player Sa Su Grs Net

Men

Aaron Moore 72 66 138 146

Shane Sundberg 72 69 141 153

Boone Theiler 83 73 156 144

Trevor Baldwin 86 76 162 146

Brandon Stickel 83 80 163 157

Chris Morin 86 80 166 156

Andrew Reed 83 83 166 150

Mattey Reutov 83 88 171 151

Brandon Boze 82 94 176 174

Paul Story 89 91 180 156

Josh Cowan 96 87 183 171

Ryan Kapp 94 91 185 145

Josh Fedde 94 105 199 165

Nate Brinton 94 105 199 163

Andrew Shook 92 92 184 138

John Morris 93 99 192 132

Joe Malatesta 111 106 217 171

Ladies

Patty Itchoak 84 93 177 149

Sally Hoagland 98 87 185 147

Sue Stein 103 93 196 148

Wendy Lindshoog 103 95 198 162

Lisa Parker 102 97 199 149

April Stonecipher 118 124 242 190

Senior

Robert Stiver 81 76 157 133

Del Hoagland 78 82 160 138

Mike Hollingsworth 92 74 166 138

Eddie Sibolboro 85 86 171 147

George Stein 83 91 174 142

Dave Mathison 90 87 177 157

Steve Tachick 88 90 178 142

Rene Alvarez 85 99 184 154

Fred Zumbahl 89 97 186 156