Spokane’s Eric Ansett helps WSGA team win Morse Cup title

Spokane’s Eric Ansett helped the Washington State Golf Association’s three-man team capture the Morse Cup, which was held concurrently with the Pacific Coast Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Ansett, a graduate of The Oaks Academy who played for Ferris High, shot 3-under-par 68 on Tuesday and 72 on Wednesday. Pepperdine-bound Joe Highsmith of Lakewood fired a pair of 70s and Hayden Lake’s Reid Hatley shot 73-80. The top two scores in each round counted toward the team score.

Highsmith’s 9-foot par putt on No. 18 clinched the title for the WSGA team, its first since 2009. Southern California and Northern California shared second at 3 under, one behind Washington, in the field of 15 Western teams.

Derek Bayley, a Lakeland High and Washington State University product, carded the day’s low round with a 5-under 66 to lift Idaho into a tie for eighth place. Teammate Josh Gliege, who plays for Texas A&M, had rounds of 75 and 72 and Oregon State commit Carson Barry shot 78-75.

The 72-hole Pacific Coast Amateur continues with rounds today and Friday. Ansett, who played for Lipscomb University in Nashville, is tied for 15th at 2-under 140. Bayley shares 19th place at 141.

Austin Eckroat, who played for Oklahoma State’s national championship team, is the 36-hole leader at 10-under 132.