Thomas, Hasse finish strong

Chessy Thomas and Justin Hasse were among the top finishers at the American Junior Golf Association Junior Open at Wenatchee Golf & Country Club Aug. 19-22.

Thomas, who competes for Lewis and Clark while attending St. Georges, finished fourth in the Girls Division, shooting 76-75-78 (229). Hasse, a sophomore at Lewis and Clark, finished fifth in the Boys Division at 73-72-71 (216). Haase’s finish earned him a full exemption for AJGA open events next year.

The AJGA Junior Open field consisted of 74 boys and 24 girls, ages 12-18, from 12 states, Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, and South Africa. The Boys Division played the par-72 course at 6,383 yards while the Girls Division played at 5,985 yards.

Other local players included Garrett Howard, who finished 45th at 76-79-77 (232) and Rod Seibly, who finished 64th at 81-79-82 (242).

•In the AJGA qualifier in Wenatchee on Aug. 18, Savana Bezdicek, 14, of Colbert, shared medalist honors with Amy Beth Simanton of Lake Oswego, Ore., in the Girls Division after bringing in 5-over-par 77s.

The qualifier was an 18-hole stroke-play competition, also held at the Wenatchee G&CC. The field consisted of 56 boys and 33 girls, ages 12-18, from seven states and Canada.

Bezdicek birdied the par-5 No. 10, draining a 30-foot putt. She opted to take a Tournament Exemption for 2009 in lieu of playing in the AJGA Open. Simanton has committed to play for Washington State next year. Howard finished 13th with 38-38 (76) in the boys division to win an exemption into the AJGA Open.