Looper Two Strokes Back At Tourney

Craig Looper of Spokane is two strokes back of leader Karl Smith of Gig Harbor after the first round of the Washington State Men’s Amateur golf tournament at the 6,553-yard Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club course.

Smith shot a 4-under-par 69 with Melvin Choi of Mill Creek and Jess Daley of Kent at 69 and Looper alone at 70.

Matthew Williamson of Spokane is in a group of five at 71 and another Spokane golfer, Jared Jeffries is in a large group at 73. Travis Thompson of Hayden Lake shot a 74 to round up the Inland Empire golfers who are among the leaders.

The field will be cut to the low 40 and ties after the second round today. The third round will be played Thursday and the final round Friday.

Junior Championship: Reid Hatley of Spokane shot an opening-round 85 in the ClubCorp Junior Players Championship conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. Brent Roof of Conway, S.C., leads the way after carding a one-under-par 71.

Girls Americas Cup: Britney Holt of Spokane shot an 81 and Terra Lawson of Colville an 86 as part of the four-person Washington state team that carded a 235 (best three scores) and was in fourth place after the first round of the Girls Junior Americas Cup played over the 5,642-yard, par70 Waikaloa Beach Course in Hawaii. The Southern California team leads at 219.