Sundberg, Cowan capture titles at Kenai Peninsula Open

Shane Sundberg, a recent graduate of Soldotna High School, tuned up for the Alaska State Match Play Championship by outdueling Nolan Rose for the amateur division title at the Kenai Peninsula Open at Birch Ridge Golf Course on Saturday and Sunday.

Sundberg won his first amateur division title while Rose missed adding to 2009, 2019 and 2022 triumphs. Starting Thursday, Sundberg will play at the match play at Anchorage Golf Course, where he made the final round of eight last year. The first weekend of August, he plays in the Alaska State Amateur, where he finished third last year.

“It was a great couple of days,” Sundberg said. “I feel like I hit the ball well. I’ll try and carry that momentum into the next few weeks.”

Sundberg said he has known Rose, 40, forever and that Rose probably taught Sundberg in junior golf at one point. The two staged a back-and forth affair Sunday that didn’t end until Sundberg eagled the 450-yard, par-5 No. 3 for the win on the third hole of sudden death.

Both had tied with two-day totals of 2-under-par 172 despite a tournament played in constant rain.

Zac Cowan, the co-owner of Birch Ridge and winner of the open division, said by the end of the tournament there were puddles in places he’s never seen puddles. Cowan is 35 and grew up on the golf course.

“What those guys did in the rain — like, a lot of rain — was solid,” Cowan said. “That’s some good playing.

“Two days of playing in that kind of weather, it’s hard to stay focused.”

Last year, Sundberg led Rose by four strokes after the first day of the Kenai Peninsula Open, but Rose rallied for a two-shot win.

This year, Rose fired a 68 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead over Sundberg into Sunday. But by the 12th hole, Sundberg had a two-shot lead over Rose after birdieing three of the last four holes.

Rose fought back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, and a bogey by Sundberg on No. 14 gave Rose a one-shot lead he carried into the 350-yard, par-4 No. 18.

Both players hit perfect tee shots but put their approaches over the green. Sundberg got up and down, while Rose didn’t, and the playoff was on.

“I had that one bad swing on 18 on that second shot with the wedge and that kind of was the difference,” Rose said. “You just hit it in the middle of the green, you win the tournament.”

In the playoff, both players had pars on Nos. 1 and 2.

On No. 3, Sundberg piped his tee ball down the middle and about 140 yards from the hole, while Rose hit into an adjacent fairway. Sundberg hit his approach to 12 feet then made the putt for eagle.

“Shane’s a very good player,” Rose said. “I feel kind of good that I can provide him with some actual competition, and vice versa, he gives me actual competition because there’s not a lot of really good players around here.”

Sundberg said the same game that got him past Rose gives him confidence heading into match play.

“I definitely think I can win match play,” Sundberg said. “I’ll try to have two good seeding days and then see what I can do in match play.

“I feel very confident playing match play. My game suits it pretty well.”

Sundberg said he’s confident with his driver — all his drives in the playoff were perfect — and when he makes putts, that puts a lot of pressure on his match play opponent.

“It’s pretty stressful, honestly,” Rose said of a day like Sunday. “I want to win and he wants to win.

“Every shot — when you’re only separated by a stroke and then you get into sudden death, like we were for three holes — every shot is really big.”

Cowan won his first open division title with a 145. The other pro in the division was two-time defending champion Rich Lundahl, at 165. Cowan said his victory gets an asterisk because so many pros couldn’t make it due to injuries or scheduling conflicts.

“Lundy didn’t have his A game, by any means, today or yesterday,” said Cowan, who thanked Nancy Field with State Farm Insurance for sponsoring the tournament. “When he does, he’s one of the best in the state.”

Saturday, in addition to being the first day of the tournament, was also a pro-am event. In the pro-am, Shane Sundberg, Keely Sundberg, Jake Eubank and Darell Jelsma were first; Nolan Rose, Eugene Malone, Brandon Boze and Danny Hughes were second; David Hamilton, John Schirach, Ron Adams and Frank Bustillos were third; and Zac Cowan, Scott Sundberg, Sue Stein and Trevor Baldwin were fourth.

Rose took first in net with 140, while Jelsma was second with 141, Steve Tachick was third with 142 and Danny Hughes was fourth with 145.

Since Rose was first in net, Jake Eubank was given second gross at 154, Eddie Sibolboro was third at 164 and Del Hoaglund was fourth at 169.

Kenai Peninsula Open

Saturday, Sunday

at Birch Ridge Golf Course

Open Division 1 2 Grs

Zac Cowan, $1,000 73 72 145

Rich Lundahl, $600 81 84 165

Amateur Division 1 2 Grs Net

*Shane Sundberg 72 70 142 144

Nolan Rose 68 74 142 140

Jake Eubank 77 77 154 146

Eddie Sibolboro 85 79 164 146

Danny Hughes 87 82 169 145

Del Hoagland 81 88 169 147

Trevor Baldwin 83 87 170 156

Darell Jelsma 89 82 171 141

Brandon Stichel 87 85 172 166

Hunter Sirois 93 79 172 170

Pedro McCall 85 88 173 161

Steve Dexheimer 87 90 177 151

Scott Sundberg 95 88 183 151

Richie Lundahl III 94 89 183 153

Fred Zumbahl 97 86 183 153

Eugene Malone 99 84 183 159

Steve Tachick 91 95 186 142

Keely Sundberg 96 95 191 155

George Stein 99 92 191 163

Sue Stein 100 109 209 161

Jeremy Uei 113 99 212 180

* — Won on third playoff hole