Pro-Am Winners: Mitchell, Gardner, Course

Spokane Country Club - the course, not its golfers - was the big winner in the 12th Washington Trust Bank Pro-Am of the season Monday.

Only three of the 56 pros and 223 amateurs managed to solve the grease-like greens and break par. And just one matched par.

Pros Chris Mitchell of Sun Dance (36-34) and Mark Gardner of Qualchan (37-33) led the way for the third time this season with 2-under-par 70s. Manito pro Steve Prugh (37-34) was a stroke back.

Matching par was pro Gary Lindeblad of Indian Canyon (34-38).

While the horrors of three- and four-putt greens were relived in the clubhouse, Dick Dukart of Priest Lake found a way to avoid that pitfall. At least on one hole. He used a 3-wood to ace the 188-yard, par-3 11th hole for his second hole-in-one in 35 years of playing golf.

Dick Bingham of Spokane CC and Hangman Valley’s Sean Clements shared the amateur lead with 73s.

Bob Buechel (77-7) and Jim Petragallo (78-8), both of Sun Dance, shared the 0-8-handicap group net lead with 70s. Jerry Camp Jr. (76-13) led in the 9-13 group with a 63 and Buzz Adams of Qualchan (80-16) was first in 14-and-up with a 64.

Next Monday’s Pro-Am is at the Chewelah Golf Club.

, DataTimes