Frontis looking for history

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Amateur Invitational is gearing up for the 2010 edition, and it could offer up a bit of history.

Should Dustin Frontis have another successful run in this year’s event, scheduled for July 30-Aug. 1 at three local golf courses, he would become the first player to win three straight titles and just the third four-time winner in the 65-year history of what started out as the Yakima City Tournament.

Frontis, who won his first title in 2002, is the two-time defending champion, overtaking Justin Bos on the final day last year with a course-record-tying 8-under 63 at the Yakima Elks.

There have been four other back-to-back winners — Joe McAuley (1954-55), Dick Lane (’58-59), Denny Colvin (’71-72), and Mike Hammermeister (’77-78) — with McAuley (’49, ’54-55, ’59) and Colvin (’69, ’71-72, ’91) the only four-time winners.

This summer’s Invitational will start at Apple Tree Resort on Friday, head to the Mount Adams Country Club on Saturday, and finish at SunTides Golf Course on Sunday.

The entry fee is $125, with an entry deadline of Monday, July 26.

The field will be capped at 144, and is open to all golfers age 18 and over who are men’s club members at Apple Tree, Black Rock Creek, Desert Aire, Ellensburg Country Club, Mount Adams, River Ridge, SunTides, the Yakima Elks, Yakima Country Club or Westwood West.

Entry forms are available at any of the participating courses, and the form can be turned in at any of the three courses being used this summer.

Golfers can also register via e-mail at yakimaamgolf@hotmail.com.

Brothers scores ace at Elks

Merl Brothers had a hole-in-one during his round Tuesday at the Yakima Elks. He used an 8-iron to ace the 135-yard eighth hole.

Dan Rollins and Stan Schmick witnessed the shot.

Twiss hits ace at Country Club

Dick Twiss used a 6-iron to hit a hole-in-one on the 185-yard 17th hole Saturday at the Yakima Country Club.

The shot was witnessed by Bill Huibregtse, Marv Swanson and Bob Twiss.