BCGA Builds a Strong Lead at the Fourth PNGA Cup

BOISE, IDAHO. (May 7, 2009) - The acclaimed PNGA Cup began today with morning four-ball matches and afternoon foursome matches at Crane Creek Country Club in Boise, Idaho with the Washington team hoping to successfully defend their title. However, the story was all British Columbia after the first day of matches.

The Ryder-cup style contest features some of the most notable amateur golfers in the region with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that makeup the Pacific Northwest Golf Association including British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Each team has of eight men and four women with the men's contingent comprised of four mid-amateurs (25 years of age or older), two men at 40 years or older, and two senior men of 55 years or older. The women's delegation includes two mid-amateurs and two women 50 years of age or older.

In the morning four-ball matches, British Columbia blazed their way into the lead with 5 points. British Columbia did not lose a morning match and finished with four match wins and two halved matches. Led by the strong play of their women’s team members, senior duo Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C. and Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. dispatched their opponents with a 8 & 7 victory, while mid-amateurs, Kim Evans of Terrace, B.C. and Christina Spence Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. also rolled to a decisive 6 & 5 victory.

The results in afternoon foursome matches (alternate shot) put the team from British Columbia in great position to try and claim their first PNGA Cup victory, by adding five more match wins, suffering only one loss which was their only of the day. BCGA finished day one by claiming ten out of a possible twelve points giving them a new PNGA Cup scoring record after four-ball and foursome play.

The team from Oregon is lurking four points behind the BCGA but is well within striking distance with twelve singles matches yet to play on Friday. Team Washington sits in third with four and a half points while Team Idaho sits just a bit further back with a total of three and a half points.

Play will commence on Friday morning with Singles Matches starting off the #1 and #10 tees at 8:00 a.m. The team with the most points accumulated after the conclusion of the singles matches will be the champion.

The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) is a 501(c) 3 charitable, international amateur golf association dedicated to preserving the true spirit of the game of golf and promoting activities beneficial to golfers in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Over the past 110 years, the Association has been a pioneer in developing competitions and services to its members. Today, the PNGA remains committed to being a truly "regional" organization providing benefits and services to its members and member clubs throughout the Northwest. The PNGA territory is broken down into five zones, which are: Zone 1 - Oregon; Zone 2 - Eastern Washington; Zone 3 - Western Washington and Alaska; Zone 4 - British Columbia and Alberta; and Zone 5 - Idaho and Montana. There are approximately 220,000 individuals at over 720 PNGA member golf clubs.

For the list of team members, click here