Andrew Lawson (PNGA Photo)
Andrew Lawson of Dallas, Tex. shot rounds of 71-75-69 and then survived a two-hole playoff to win the 39th PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held this week at Jug Mountain Ranch in McCall, Idaho.
Lawson defeated Jesse Hibler of Meridian, Idaho, in the playoff to take the title.
The 54-hole stroke-play championship featured a strong field of the top men’s mid-amateur players from across the Pacific Northwest.
Lawson started today’s final round four shots back of Hibler, who held the top spot at the top of the leaderboard after the second round. Between Hibler and Lawson were Colton Kleis of Kenmore, Wash. and Michael Cairns of Carnation, Wash., both at two shots back of Hibler.
Hibler still held a two-shot lead after the front nine in today’s final round, and when Lawson double-bogeyed the short par-5 13th, the way looked clear for Hibler. But he ran into trouble on the relatively innocent par-4 15th and double-bogeyed as well, to fall behind Lawson by a shot.
When Lawson bogeyed the final hole, he and Hibler headed for the playoff.
Lawson was playing the second-to-last group today. “I had no idea what was going on behind me (in Hibler’s group),” he said. “I was just trying to take care of my own game.”
On the 13th, Lawson four-putted for the double-bogey, scuffing a six-inch tap-in. On the 18th, from the middle of the fairway he hit his second shot to the back edge of the green and proceeded to three-putt from there, then watched as Hibler parred the final hole to force the playoff.
Lawson and Hibler were the only two players in the field to finish under par.
Lawson, 41, spends his summers in Sun Valley, Idaho, playing the resort’s Bigwood course, as well as the nearby Valley Club. “I played in college, but that was many years ago,” he said. “Then I played absolutely no golf at all for four or five years. Didn’t pick up a club. But now I try to play in a few events each summer. I’m already planning on defending my title in this championship next year. I’ll be back.”
Hibler brought a lot of experience to Jug Mountain this week, having won back-to-back PNGA Master-40 titles in 2021-2022, with the 2022 championship held at Jug Mountain. He also won the 2019 IGA Men’s Tournament of Champions, and the 2023 Idaho Men’s Mid-Amateur.
He has been named to several PNGA Lamey Cup competitions as a member of the Idaho Golf Association team.
View results for PNGA Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE
PNGA Mid-Amateur
Format: 54-hole Stroke Play Competition (Gross
only). The field will be cut to the low 60 players and
ties for the final round.
Age Limit: Entrants must be 25 years of age or older
by the start of the tournament.
Handicap Limit: Entrants must have a USGA
Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor of
8.4 or less.
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