Jake Koppenberg won by 5 strokes in sectional qualifying and will play in U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach in August. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Former WWU Viking Jake Koppenberg Qualifies for Fourth U.S. Amateur
July 18, 2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Former Western Washington University golf standout Jake Koppenberg has qualified for his fourth U.S. Amateur golf championship that will be held Aug. 13-19 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California.
Koppenberg, a native of Everett and current Bellingham native, won Monday’s sectional qualifying at Lake Spanaway Golf Course with back-to-back rounds of 4-under-par 66 on the par 70 layout. Koppenberg earned a 5-stroke victory over Ian Siebers of Bellevue, who also qualified for the with his second-place finish.
Koppenberg also qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2008 (Pinehurst Resort & Country Club - No. 2, Village of Pinehurst, N.C.), 2015 (Olympia Fields Country Club, Olympia Fields, Ill.) and 2017 (The Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, Calif.).
In his two seasons at Western, Koppenberg was named a First Team All-American and tied for 12th place at the NCAA Division II Championships hosted by WWU at Loomis Trail Golf and Country Club and Semiahmoo Resort and Spa in Blaine, Washington. Koppenberg is still WWU’s all-time scoring leader at 71.40 (-0.09 to par) in 67 career rounds. He is tied for the all-time lead with four tournament wins and recorded 40 rounds of par or better during his WWU career.
Current Viking players Cody Roth (+8, 148), Devin Andrews (+14, 154) and transfer Aidan Thain (+21, 161) also competed in the U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying at Lake Spanaway Golf Course, as did former Viking Mark Strickland (+9, 149). GNAC Freshman of the Year Brody Bonfilio (+3, 145) tied for 17th at the sectional qualifier at BanBury Golf Course in Eagle, Idaho.
GNAC championships individual medalist Ethan Casto, graduated senior Willy Scholten and former Viking Chris Hatch are scheduled to play in the sectional qualifier Wednesday at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Washington.
Several former and current Vikings also played in the Rosauers Open Invitational July 13-15 at Indian Canyon Golf Course in Spokane. WWU Athletics Hall of Famer Tim Feenstra tied for 2nd at 10-under-par 203 (68-69-66) and current head coach Luke Bennett finished in the top 20 in a tie for 19th place at 5-under-par 208 (70-69-69).
-- @WWUMGolf --
