- Oregon G.A. photo
PENDLETON, Ore. (Sunday, June 6, 2010) - Heavy storms and rain threatened the final round of the 13th Oregon Public Links Championship at Wildhorse, but it wasn’t sufficient to deter first rounds Monica Vaughn of Reedsport, Ore. and Justin Kadin of Corvallis, Ore. on their respective treks to a title.
In the Women’s Division, despite having to combat the elements which made the course far more difficult than the one faced during the sunny and calm first round, the 15-year-old Vaughn bested her prior day total with a 1-under par 36-35—71 on the 5,723-yard course. Starting the day with a 5-stroke lead, she distanced herself from the rest of her competitors winning by a commanding 12-stroke margin.
In a similar fashion, Kadin also lapped his field shooting a 4-under par 33-35-68, finishing at 7-under par on the 6,620 Yard par 72 course. He began the day tied with Byron Patton of Tigard, Ore put himself ahead with birdies on each of the par 5 holes besting the rest of the Men’s division by 4 strokes. His last victory came in 2007 when he won the OSAA 5a Individual State title and the Sandpines Junior as well that year.
Kadin, who is now on the golf team and a sophomore at the University of Idaho, credits much of his win today to his swing coach, Trysting Head Professional, Sean Arey. “Watching Sean just hit it around never making too many mistakes, and then suddenly you realize he is 4 or 5 under, has really taught me a lot on managing my own game,” said Kadin. After transferring from South West Community College two years ago this was the first season that Kadin has had to play for Idaho.
Kadin, even with his plus handicap, would have also captured the Net title but he became ineligible after capturing the Gross title. Instead the Net title went to two worthy Champions in Steve Alberts, of Vancouver Wash. and Byron Patton of Tigard, Ore, with both players firing a 3-under 141 net totals.
The Net title in the Women’s Division went to McKennon O’Rourke with a bet score of 76-77-153. O’Rourke who plays golf for the University of Portland took the title by a 1-stroke margin over the rest of the field.
First established in 1998, the Public Links Championship is a 36-hole gross and net stroke play competition open to both Men and Women amateur golfers with USGA Handicap Indexes of 36.4 or less (for Men) and 40.4 or less (for Women). only open to those who are members of Oregon Golf Association member clubs who have been bona fide public course players and have not held a membership at any course that does not extend playing privileges to the general public. The majority of OGA members come from regular public clubs (those based at golf courses) or from Associate Clubs formed by churches, companies, social clubs and more.
The Public Links championship also boasts an interesting tradition as numerous titleholders have either held or pursued professional golf careers. Among those with professional ties are Men’s Champions, Adam Hagen (‘03, ‘05, ‘07), Ian Hagen (‘02), Ryan Fery (‘04) and Mike Debruyn (‘06), and; Women’s Champions Karla Kalian (‘98), Julie Wells (‘01), Elizabeth Regan (‘07), Rebecca Kim (‘06) and Taya Battistella (‘00).
ABOUT THE
Oregon Public Links
Entries are open to amateur golfers who, since the
start of the calendar year, have been bona
fide public course players and have not held a
membership at any course which
does not extend playing privileges to the general
public or membership with any
private club maintaining its own course. Entries in
the Men’s Division is limited to
golfers with USGA Handicap Indexes of 36.4 and
less. Entries in the Women’s
Division is limited to golfers who are female with
USGA Handicap Indexes of 40.4
and less.
36-hole stroke play competition. Gross and Net
prizes will be awarded
to top finishers in each flight. Players have their
choice of entering either the
“Championship” or “Open” flights.
View Complete Tournament Information