Amateurs Lead Pro-Am

With many of the area’s top professional golfers at the Ernst Washington Open Invitational in Bellevue, the depleted professional pack at the Athletic Round Table Pro-Am Monday at Wandermere Golf Course was upstaged by the amateurs.

In fact, the three best scores were handed in by amateurs. Howard Crosby of Spokane Country Club had the best round of the day, firing a 3-under 67 to win low gross honors in the 0-8 handicap division.

Crosby beat Sean Clements of Hangman Valley and Steve Becker of Wandermere by a stroke. Troy Blood of Lewiston was fourth with a 69.

In the men’s pro division, four players tied at 69 - Matt Bunn of Spokane Country Club; Dan Porter, Downriver; and Bill Ross, Wandermere, had identical front- and back-nine scores (34-35) for 69s. Les Blakely of Spokane CC rallied for a 69 after a 36 on the front side.

Four players were tied at 71 and four more shot 72s.

Ken Johnston of Sun Dance won the senior pro division with a 70, outdueling Bill Sproule of Okanagan Valley by two strokes.

Dave Johnston from Birdies Golf Center took the amateur 0-8 handicap division low net title with a 62. John Bergeman, The Creek at Qualchan, was second with a 64 and three players were tied for third at 66.

Buster Heitman, Spokane CC, and Jack Hanson, Wandermere, tied for the low net honors in the amateur 9-13 division with 63s. In the 14-30 division, Jim Willcut, Coeur d’Alene Resort, and Bob Allen, Hayden Lake, tied for the title with 65s.

, DataTimes MEMO: Cut in Spokane edition