Gold Mountain G.C. honored Seattle native and 1960 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Bill Tindall by making him the honorary chairman for the championship. When the club hosted the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links, it honored William Wright, the first African-American to win a USGA championship (1959 APL). Wright also grew up in Seattle and now works as a golf pro in Los Angeles.
Tindall did more than just shake a few hands this week. Earlier in the week, he served as a starter for practice rounds. Then when match play began on Wednesday, he was serving as a standard bearer. On Thursday morning, he walked with the William Zalatoris/Andy Olsen second-round match.
Tindall and Wright also have a connection that is just not related to growing up in Seattle. When Wright won the 1959 APL, his roommate that week in Denver was Tindall, who was a 16-year-old high school golfer. The next year, Tindall won the Junior Amateur in Kansas City. Overall, Tindall, who is a teaching pro in the Seattle area, has competed in 10 USGA championships, including the 1960 and 1961 U.S. Amateurs.
Tindall said he's been very impressed by the quality of play shown this week at the Junior Amateur. -- David Shefter