Frontis is back for thirds at Yakima Amateur

YAKIMA, Wash. — Dusty Frontis says one of the toughest things about playing in tournaments these days is that “there always seems to be another 18-year-old coming up.”

This weekend, however, Frontis will have to worry about more than just one or two of those young guns, with a host of golfers of all ages trying to deny Frontis’ run at history in the Yakima Amateur Invitational.

The Eisenhower High graduate, one of just five back-to-back winners in what was originally called the Yakima City Tournament, will be seeking to become the first player to win three consecutive titles, and just the third to win four overall.

“It’s pretty cool because we’ve had some pretty good players come through here,” Frontis said of the pending challenge that begins today at Apple Tree Resort.

Saturday’s second round is at Mount Adams Country Club, with the final round Sunday at SunTides Golf Course.

Although keenly aware of the stakes, Frontis wasn’t obsessing over it.

“I try not to think about it,” he said. “I just want to go out and play like it’s another round.”

There will be plenty of worthy adversaries chasing Frontis, a plus-3 handicapper, starting with one of those young talents he referred to, Goldendale’s Zach Wanderscheid, a two-time state high school champion with a plus-4 handicap.

Another plus-4 is Ellensburg’s Zach Mayer.

Others in the field are veteran Troy Wilmoth, who won the Yakima Valley Seniors Invitational earlier this year, and Corey DeGrood, who paired with Frontis to win the Central Washington Bestball championship in May and who was third in this event last summer.

The deep field also includes Brad Donahue, Doug Hearron, Ward Jackson, Carey Weedman, Jeff Larkin, Reidar Nettleship, Ivan Porcayo, Kenny Leadon, Matt Crockett, Gary Hutchins, and Perry Page.

“It’ll be tough, but I kind of like the pressure,” Frontis said. “I always seem to play a little better with the pressure on.”

Being in this position wasn’t something the 26-year-old really expected when he returned to the Valley after graduating from the University of Washington in 2006.

“I lost my game in college, but after I came back here and settled in, I regained it,” he said. “I’ve finally started playing well again.”

Frontis’ game started slipping when he got out of his “comfort zone” playing in the often wet conditions on the west side. In particular, he changed his swing trying to hit the ball higher and that “messed me up.”

Back home and on the familiar layout of his home course, Yakima Elks, Frontis rediscovered his stroke.

“I’m doing everything fairly well, and my short game has always been pretty good,” said Frontis, who plays a couple hours in the evening about three times a week, and then turns in a couple of rounds on weekends, when not competing in tournaments.

“I’m busy with work but I still get to play more than most people,” said Frontis, who is service manager at Burrows Tractor.

And with his game in top form again, Frontis looks forward to any opportunity to test it against those youngsters and others — especially in the Yakima Amateur.

“I definitely have to come back and keep playing (in that one),” he said.

And, as of late, quite successfully at that.