Golf roundup: Amateurs in Pullman

A field of 147 of the best amateur golfers in the Pacific Northwest will converge on Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman this week to compete in the 2009 Washington State Golf Association Men’s Amateur.

The prestigious 72-hole event kicks off this morning at 7:30, with threesomes teeing off both the first and 10th holes, and concludes Friday. The field, which includes past champions Joel Dahmen (2007), from Clarkston, and Bob Burton (1975), from Everett, will be cut to the low 60 and ties following Wednesday’s second round.

Another golfer considered to be among the top contenders is Kenmore’s Derek Berg, who tied for second with Dahmen in last year’s event, which was won by Richard Lee. Lee is not competing in this year’s event.

Palouse Ridge, a nationally acclaimed par-72 layout that can be stretched to 7,308 yards, opened last year and is the home course for the golf teams at Washington State University. It was recently named the 16th-best college course in the United States by Links magazine.

USGA Junior Am

Zach Wanderschied of Goldendale, Wash., and Kim Scobin of Canada carded the best scores at the USGA Junior Amateur qualifying tournament at Manito Golf and Country Club on Monday.

Wanderschied shot a 142 and is the lone qualifier for boys from Monday’s regional for the USGA Junior Amateur to be played at Trump National Golf Course in New Jersey at the end of July. Spokane’s Garrett Howard shot a 144 and is the 2nd alternative.

Scobin (73) heads a list of four qualifiers for the girls. Post Falls’ Genavive Dodge just missed qualifying with a 78 and is listed as the first alternative.