Eagle, Idaho (Saturday, July 12) – Jason Kang of Valencia, Calif., outlasted the original field of 157, battled his way through six straight days of golf, and defeated Stephen Hale of Bakersfield, Calif. in a 36-hole final match to win the 107th PNGA Men’s Amateur, held at BanBury Golf Club in Eagle, Idaho. 

Saturday's 36-hole final match pitted two Pac-10 rivals against each other, with UCLA's Jason Kang taking on Cal's Stephen Hale. The day was perfect for scoring as winds were calm and the ball carrying a long way in the 2500 foot altitude. Kang started off hot knocking a hybrid to two feet and making eagle on the 535-yard, par-5 2nd hole to take a 1-up lead. 

Kang would continue to play mistake free the rest of the morning and used that eagle and four additional birdies to grab a 6-up lead through 18 holes.   Kang’s only score worse than a par was a double bogey on the 249-yard par-3 14th hole. 

Kang continued the afternoon round where he left off in the morning and quickly increased his lead to 8-up.  Hale was able to cut that lead to 6-up through 28 holes.  While he his chances were still slim and none, at least slim was in the picture.  Hales' fate became reality when Kang drilled a 15 foot putt for birdie on the 29th hole and capped it with a fist pump while yelling "BANG."!  That move has become Kang's signature celebration and is known around the college ranks as the "Kang Bang."

BANG - Your the 107th Champ!

Kang would complete the inevitable by burying a 9-foot birdie putt on the next hole and close the match with a 7 and 6  victory.  He becomes the 107th champion of the PNGA Men's Amateur and joins the likes of Tiger Woods, Jeff Quinney, Nick Flanagan, Bill Sander, and Danny Green.

As for the Washingtonian contingent, none were able to advance past the round of 16.  All played well however and most of their matches were closely contested affairs.