A well-timed summer vacation and a cousin connection let Alex LemMon, a rising sophomore on the men’s golf team at NCAA Division II Chico State University, know about the 2024 Clallam County Amateur Championship.
He did all the rest himself in raising the trophy awarded to the best amateur golfer on the North Olympic Peninsula, winning the event by 12 strokes at -10-under-par and shooting his lowest-ever competitive round in the process.
“My wedge play and approach shot play was good this week,” LemMon said. “I had a lot of shots close to the hole and that took some stress off.”
LemMon’s stellar play throughout the three-day, 54-hole event drained much of the drama from the final 18 on July 14 at The Cedars at Dungeness and LemMon made sure there was no Sunday stumble — firing a nice round of -3-under-par 69.
On vacation visiting family in Sequim, LemMon found out about the tournament from his cousin Sean O’Mera, who also played in the event. O’Mera, a Sequim High School teacher, was a Sequim golfing standout and recently coached the boys golf team.
Photo byDave Logan/For Olympic Peninsula News Group / Alex LemMon tees off at the first hole at The Cedars at Dungeness during the 2024 Clallam County Amateur Championship.
LemMon opened with a 71 at Sunland Golf Club on July 12, sinking four birdies but also experiencing his toughest stretch of play with three back-nine bogies.
That score was only topped by his -7-under-65 at Peninsula Golf Club the next day. LemMon feasted on the course’s four par-5s, shooting 3-under on those holes. He also opened the back nine by draining birdies on three of the first four holes and four of the first six to open up separation.
“Maybe I’m biased but Peninsula Golf Club is a pretty great course,” LemMon said.
“That was my lowest round in competition ever.”
Up by 13 strokes heading into the final round, LemMon said he focused on attacking the course.
“It was good,” LemMon said of playing with the lead. “I tried not to think about it too much, just thought about making some more birdies and trying to keep playing aggressively.
“The first two rounds I played pretty aggressively and I didn’t want to change anything.”
