2012 Everett Amateur Championship

Mark Strickland Shoots 31 On The Final Nine to Win City of Everett Men's Amateur Title

Mark Strickland shot an even par 36 on the front nine at Legion Memorial Golf Course and with just nine holes to play in the 36 hole Everett Amateur Championship was in 3rd place.  Through 27 holes Mark was tied with Sean McMullen at 3 under par and trailing first round co-leaders Jeff Strickland (5 under par) and Brian Barhanovich (4 under par).  The back nine belonged to Mark Strickland who tore it up with 5 birdies including birdies on the last three holes to capture the city of Everett Men’s Amateur title.

 Mark, who is from Mukilteo and plays golf for Western Washington University had been in contention in other major northwest amateur events before, but had never won.  Earlier this spring Strickland had finished 2nd in the Snohomish County Amateur and then just 3 weeks ago finished 2nd again the Seattle City Amateur Championship.  In Mark’s own words prior to the first round of the Everett Amateur, “I have been knocking at the door, but it just hasn’t opened”.  Well when the door opened today he charged right through it with a 5 under par 67 and a tournament record tying 8 under par 139!

Brycen Finnie who started the day tied for 6th place at 1 under par went unnoticed until making a late on a charge of his own with birdies on 3 of the last 4 holes to shoot 68 and finish in second place alone at 6 under par.  Brycen will be attending the University of Idaho this fall where he hopes to make the golf team as a walk on.

Jeff Strickland finished in a tie for 3rd place at 3 under par with Connor Miele and Sean McMullen. Brian Barhanovich finished alone in 6th place at one under par.

Jeff, the elder statesmen of the leaders you might say is Mark’s father and a well known northwest amateur golfer and former Snohomish County Amateur Champion (1996).  The other leaders are all attending college with Connor Miele playing golf for St. Martins University, Sean McMullen playing golf for the University of Idaho and Brian Barhanovich just finished his senior year playing golf for Western Washington University.

Scoring Summary Below:

2012 City of Everett Men’s Amateur Championship
July 21st and 22nd, 2012
Round 1 Walter E. Hall Golf Course, Par 72, 6.426 yards
Round 2 Legion Memorial Golf Course, Par 72, 6.750 yards

Barhanovich and Strickland Tied for lead in Everett Amateur at 68

Brian Barhanovich birdied the first 4 holes on the way to a first round 4 under par 68.  Jeff Strickland shot 34 on each nine but used 3 birdies in a row on the back nine to also post a lead tying 68. 

Barhanovich got off to a hot start making putts ranging from 9 to 15 feet for birdies on the first 4 holes.  I hit some really good iron shots including a 4-iron to 9 feet on the 220 yard par 3 third hole to set up his birdie. He made 8 birdies in all, but some wayward drives cost him a bogey and double bogey on the back nine.  Jeff Strickland’s putter was a strong point in his play today also.  Jeff said, “I just got a new putter yesterday and this was the first time I used it …and I think I kind of like it”.

Mark Strickland and Sean McMullen are tied for 3rd place only one stroke off the pace with 3 under par 69’s.  

The way the tie breakers work for pairings for Sunday’s final round, Brian Barhanovich, Jeff Strickland and Mark Strickland will be paired together for the final round.  That almost makes the final pairing a family affair.  Mark and Jeff actually are family.  Mark, fresh off a 2nd place finish in the Seattle Amateur is Jeff’s son.  Both players have strong amateur records, but they have only been paired together in the final group of an Amateur Championship event once, but neither player won that event. 

Brian Barhanovich and Mark Strickland are teammates on the Western Washington University golf team and have played together along with Mark’s dad, Jeff, for years.  All three said they are excited to play together in the final pairing. 

This pairing may be unusual, but they are not the only players in contention.  There are 13 players within 4 strokes of the lead and 20 within 6 shots for the final round Sunday at Legion Memorial Golf Course.

Results Summary Below: