Maletis Becomes Oldest Player to Win PNGA Men's Master-40

Medalist Chris Maletis of Portland, Ore. made a clutch putt on the 18th hole to win the 33rd PNGA Men's Master-40 at the Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

Maletis and Harry Ferguson of Invermere, B.C. squared off in the final match Friday. Through the first nine holes of the 18-hole finale, Maletis and Ferguson remained all-square. On the back nine, Maletis started strongly and went 2-up through 15 holes. On No. 16 he missed a short par putt while Ferguson birdied, but was still 1-up with two holes to play.

On the 17th Ferguson had an incredible chip shot over a deep bunker with little room to stop the ball at the front-hole location, and kept it from rolling down to the second tier of the green. Ferguson made the 10-footer for birdie, forcing the match to be decided on the 18th hole.

The par-4 18th at the Home Course plays 440 yards into the wind. Maletis left his tee shot in a position that he could not see the 18th green, while Ferguson gave himself a clear shot but was farther away. Ferguson hit his ball to the middle of the putting surface, leaving him with a birdie chance. Maletis, who usually hits a draw, decided that with the wind and distance he would play a high-cut shot. His 8-iron cut shot landed softly, leaving his ball closer to the hole than Ferguson's, but he still faced a challenging birdie opportunity. Ferguson missed his birdie try while Maletis dropped his 12-footer for birdie to win the match.

Maletis is one of Northwest's top senior amateurs, winning the PNGA Senior Amateur in 2007, while serving as both captain and player on many Amateur and Senior Amateur Hudson Cup teams, and accruing a long list of other golfing accomplishments. PNGA records indicate that Maletis, who turns 60 in September, is now the oldest player ever to win the PNGA Men's Master-40 Amateur.

Final Results of Men's Mid-40

Championship Flight -- (Final)
Chris Maletis, Portland, Ore. (142) def. Harry Ferguson, Invermere, BC (148), 1 up

Flight 1 -- (Final)
Darren Kuhn, Pocatello, Idaho (154) def. Brent Christensen, Rathdrum, Idaho (153), 1 up

Flight 2 -- (Final)
Tom Campbell, Bremerton, Wash. (155) def. Craig Gordon, Sammamish, Wash. (155), 2 up

Flight 3 -- (Final)
Burke Shethar, Seattle, Wash. (157) def. Mark Blore, Selah, Wash. (156), 1 up

Flight 4 -- (Final)
Kent Potts, Bothell, Wash. (161) def. John Snyder, Vancouver, BC (160), 1 up


Flight 5 -- (Final)
Steven K Buchberger, University Place, Wash. (163) def. Brian Hoff, Lakewood, Wash. (162), 20 holes

Flight 6 -- (Final)
Ward Jackson, Yakima, Wash. (164) def. Bill Jones, Nampa, Idaho (164), 5 and 4

Flight 7 - (Final)
Joel Watters, Shelton, Wash. (171) def. Dain Pape, Mt. Shasta, Calif. (171), 20 holes holes

Flight 8 -- (Final)
Byron Hall, Abbotsford, BC (178) def. Daniel Lee, Kenmore, Wash. (181), 22 holes

Flight 9 -- (Final)
Ray May, Everett, Wash. (192) def. Michael Goodrick, Edmonds, Wash. (185), 5 and 4