Gillis Wins PNGA Men’s Amateur Publinx & Phimchinda the Women’s Title

Mitchell Gillis, a 22-year-old senior on the Oregon State University golf team captured his third major title in Oregon this summer by winning the 23rd PNGA Men’s Amateur Public Links. Sue Phimchinda of Bonney Lake, Wash., maintained her first-round lead to win the 9th PNGA Women’s Amateur Public Links. Both events were held at Diamond Woods Golf Course in Monroe, Ore.

Gillis, a native of Williams Lake, B.C., and the only player to shoot back-to-back rounds in the 60s, has enjoyed a lot of success this year in the Beaver State. He won the Oregon Golf Association Men’s Stroke Play Championship last week at Emerald Valley Golf Club and the Oregon Amateur earlier in the year.

Gillis set the early pace by making birdie on the first hole and an eagle 3 on the par-5 eighth hole. He finished the first nine holes at 3-under par. After a bogey on No. 10, Gillis righted the ship and finished the championship strong with a birdie on the finishing hole. Gillis won the championship by two strokes. His nearest competitor was an incoming freshman on the University of Washington golf team, Chris Evans of Grapeview, Wash.

Phimchinda carded a 1-over par 72 to maintain her lead and capture the title in the PNGA Women’s Amateur Public Links. Phimchinda birdied both par-3s on the front nine and made the turn at 1-under 34. She immediately ran into trouble on the 10th hole, though, making her only double-bogey of the tournament. She recovered with a birdie on the par-5 13th. Her nearest competition was Brittany Tallman of Issaquah, Wash., who finished two strokes behind. Tallman is the reigning 3A Girls State High School champion in Washington State.

In the Senior Men’s Division, Ken Brown of Colville, Wash., dominated, winning by six strokes after rounds of 73-71 for a 144 total. Brown was the 2005 PNGA Senior Amateur champion and 2005 PNGA Senior Amateur Player of the Year.

For complete final results visit http://www.thepnga.org/championships/womens_apl/womenslinks.asp (for women) and http://www.thepnga.org/championships/mens_apl/menslinks.asp (for men).