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Chehalis' own Warren Ayers held off 180 of the area's best golfers to win the 2025 Lewis County Amateur (LCA) Golf Tournament Saturday and Sunday at Riverside Golf Club in Chehalis.
Ayers, a Chehalis police officer, shot a 2-day total of 134 (8-under par), one stroke better than Centralia's Von Wasson, who finished at 133.
The overall Net Champion (score including handicap) was Jordan Neal, who scored 13-under par for the two days (shooting gross scores of 88, 87 with a 23 handicap each day for a total of 65, 64). Andy Erb (-8 with handicap for the two days) was second overall Net and JP Pannette (-7) was third.
Ayers is the first champion from the Twin Cities of the LCA in a dozen years, as the event draws the best golfers each year from Western Washington.
Ayers can often be found on the range and putting green at Riverside working on this game. The 45-year-old has been chasing the trophy for several years and competes in many competitive amateur events in the Pacific Northwest.
"Hard work pays off," he said following the event. "It's nice to keep this trophy in Lewis County."
Wasson led the event after the first day, shooting a bogey-free 7-under par 64 with Ayers a stroke behind at 65. Casey Winters sat in third place after shooting 67.
On day two on a difficult course setup, Ayers pulled ahead after birdieing the eighth and ninth holes. Wasson was a stroke back after birdieing hole 15. Both players parred 16 and 17 and set up the final hole showdown. Wasson pulled driver on the short, par-4 18th and his drive was right, but hit a tree and kicked into the middle of the fairway, about 40 yards short of the green. Ayers hit an iron off the tee and left himself a shot of about 130 yards. He hit a gap wedge to 12 feet to the applause of a packed deck atop the Riverside Bar. Wasson then skipped a wedge that hit right next to the pin, but rolled out to about 20 feet. His birdie putt on a slick, downhill green failed to find the cup and Ayers two-putted for the win.
"I've known Warren, who we call ‘The War Machine’ for about a decade and his work ethic and attention to detail are wildly impressive," said Riverside Head Professional Austin Abbott. "I know how much this win means to him."
Three past champions — Eli McNelly (-4), Patrick Nugent (-3) and Jon McCaslin (even par) — rounded out the top five in the event.
Wasson is off to Fresno State University, where he will be competing in his second year of college golf.
Ayers’ next event is the Northwest Open, later this month at the Home Course in Dupont.
"It was a great event and having one of our local guys hoist the trophy made this an extra special weekend," said Abbott. "Our entire team works really hard to put on a great show for everyone and I'll remember this one for a long time."
The Riverside Golf Club Lewis County Amateur takes place the first weekend in August each year.
