Shane Sundberg won the men’s division, Alice Kerkvliet won the ladies division and Darell Jelsma won the senior division at the Birch Ridge Amateur Championship, held Saturday and Sunday at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna.
The event was previously called the Kenai Peninsula Open. The new name came because the pro division was eliminated this year. The event had been previously called the Peninsula Amateur before going to Kenai Peninsula Open in 2011.
Birch Ridge co-owner Zac Cowan said the new format was a success.
“We have 34 players this year, which is more than last year,” he said. “I’m just hoping it continues to grow once I lock down a weekend.”
Cowan also put in a new wrinkle in the format for the senior and ladies divisions. Each played nine holes Saturday before playing 18 on Sunday. Seniors still had the option of playing 36 holes from the senior tees, but that meant they were in the men’s division.
“I’d like to think it made a difference with how many signed up, because 36 holes is, one, intimidating to some, and, two, hard physically,” Cowan said.
He said the seven ladies signed up for the tournament were the most in at least eight years.
Kerkvliet won with a two-day total of 20-over-par 128. Patty Itchoak was right behind at 129. Kerkvliet had come into the day trailing by a stroke, but a birdie on No. 18 on Sunday clinched the tourney for her.
“I think Patty probably should have won, but she had an off day,” Kerkvliet said. “So I got lucky. But I have been playing better.”
Kerkvliet said she didn’t start playing golf until she was 40 after meeting her husband, Dave. In her 17 or 18 years playing since then, she’d only entered one tournament prior to this weekend. She said she’s been playing more since retiring a few years ago and that’s paid off.
“I was a little nervous to do it today, because I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “It wasn’t that bad. I’d do it again.”
She said the beautiful weather both days did not hurt.
“I’d just like to thank Zac and the Birch Ridge people,” she said. “They did a great job. The course looks in really great shape. And it was a lot of fun.”
Itchoak took first net at 110, while Sally Hoagland was second gross at 146 and Sue Stein was second net at 116 in a scorecard playoff over Vicki Hollingsworth.
The senior division also had seven players, with Jelsma coming out on top at 125, while Del Hoagland was right behind for second gross at 126.
Jelsma said he’s won the senior division two or three times, but this victory is sweet because he recently turned 80.
“Your darn right I am,” said Jelsma when asked if he was proud of the victory at 80. “Very much so. Because I’m playing my friends.”
Jelsma said he started playing the course in 1974. According to Cowan, Birch Ridge had opened for a month in September 1972 before its first full season in 1973.
In all that time, winning at the course really hasn’t changed.
“Not screwing up,” Jelsma said. “I didn’t have any birdies. Just being steady and trying not to give away strokes.”
Jelsma said he still plays three or four times a week and has been impressed with the course throughout the season.
“My crew and what we’ve been doing this year — striving for consistency throughout the season — has really made a major impact on the golf course,” Cowan said.
Also in the senior division, George Stein took first net at 107 and Dave Mathison was second net at 118 in a scorecard playoff over Steve Horn.
Sundberg cruised to his second straight title in the men’s division. He finished at 5-over-par 149, while Nolan Rose was second at 157 in the hunt for his fourth title, Jake Eubank was third at 159 and Jared Ramm was fourth at 166.
Sundberg was disappointed with the way he played at the end of two days of golf.
“I played horrible down the stretch,” he said. “I had a huge lead, kind of relaxed a little bit, and then played really bad.”
Sundberg will still head to his second year of golf at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon, with a cool summer story.
He won the Alaska State Amateur earlier this summer to qualify for the U.S. Amateur in mid-August at Hazeltine and Chaska Town Course in Minnesota. He missed the cut after two days of stroke play and didn’t make match play.
“I wish I could have played a little better golf, but overall it was still really cool,” he said.
Sundberg said it was a great experience seeing where his game stacks up against the best amateurs in the world. He said his game from 80 yards to the pin is fine, but he needs to hit the ball farther.
Sundberg said he normally hits the driver straight, but he didn’t at the Amateur and that cost him.
He still would like to play at a bigger school after junior college.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do this year, then heading somewhere next year,” he said.
Steve Tachick, at 137, was first net in a scorecard playoff over John Morris. Fred Zumbahl was third at 138, while Andrew Shook was fourth at 139.
Friday, closest to the pin went to Jared Ramm on No. 6, Spencer Tachick on No. 15, and Michael Houghton on Nos. 8 and 17.
Saturday, closest to the pin went to Houghton on No. 6, Steve Tachick on No. 8, Jelsma on No. 15 and Chris Morin on No. 17.
Birch Ridge Amateur Championship
Saturday, Sunday at Birch Ridge
Par 72
Player Sat Sun Net Grs
Men’s Division
Shane Sundberg 74 75 155 149
Nolan Rose 76 81 159 157
Jake Eubank 77 82 153 159
Jared Ramm 81 85 148 166
Fred Zumbahl 86 80 138 166
Chris Morin 84 83 153 167
Pedro McCall 83 87 162 170
Eddie Sibolboro 82 88 150 170
Spencer Tachick 88 86 140 174
Steve Tachick 87 88 137 175
Michael Hougton 92 85 151 177
Richie Lundahl 89 93 156 182
Andrew Shook 90 93 139 183
Steve Griglione 94 90 164 184
Eugene Malone 89 91 158 180
Scott Sundberg 99 92 159 191
Matfey Reutov 101 94 177 195
John Morris 94 101 137 195
Joe Malatesta 100 112 152 212
Senior Division
(Played 9 holes Saturday, 18 holes Sunday)
Darell Jelsma 43 82 101 125
Del Hoagland 42 84 111 126
George Stein 44 84 107 128
Dave Mathison 45 87 118 132
Mike Chenault 41 99 124 140
Steve Horn 48 95 118 143
Sid Cox 51 95 122 146
Ladies Division
(Played 9 holes Saturday, 18 holes Sunday)
Alice Kerkvliet 43 85 106 128
Patty Itchoak 42 87 110 129
Sally Hoagland 48 98 115 146
Sue Stein 50 99 116 149
Vicki Hollingsworth 52 98 116 150
Tanna Chenault 55 100 130 155
Darell Jelsma watches his tee shot on No. 18 en route to the Senior Division title at the Birch Ridge Amateur Championship on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jared Ramm chips to the No. 15 green at the Birch Ridge Amateur Championship on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Nolan Rose putts on the No. 15 green at the Birch Ridge Amateur Championship on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Shane Sundberg tees off on No. 16 on the way to winning the Men’s Division at the Birch Ridge Amateur Championship on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
