It was try-to-go-low day Wednesday, something that is sweet music the ears of Sumner's Brian Thornton.

And his 6-under-par 66 was good enough to grab a victory at the 83rd Washington Open Invitational on the golf course he teaches at, Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent.

Thornton, a teaching professional at Meridian Valley, finished at 6-under 210, which was one stroke better than Tom Sovay (66), the head pro at Harbour Point Golf Club in Mukilteo, at 211.

Midway through the final round, it was Chris Griffin, the former assistant pro at Tacoma Country and Golf Club, who had a two-shot cushion. But late bogeys on the final-nine par-5s (holes Nos. 1 through 9) led to a 73, and dropped him into a third-place finish at 213 along with Willapa Harbor's Louie Runge (74) and Sahalee amateur Erik Hanson (70).

[More:]

Thornton entered the day trailing leader Dirk Nelson, of Oregon, by six strokes. Nelson quickly faltered having suffering a back injury, and five final-nine birdies thrust Thornton, 34, to the top of the leaderboard.

The key one was on the downhill 190-yard, par-3 seventh (which was the 15th hole since the field started off the 10th tee). Facing a curling 12-footer, Thornton shot a greenside leaderboard a quick glance, and figured he was right in the thick of things.

"I was like, 'Hmm, I might have something here,'" Thornton said.

He canned the putt to move to 5-under for the tournament, and in a tie for the lead with Griffin.

And Thornton wasn't through. His 9-iron approach on the par-4 eighth – his 17th – nestled close, and he sank a 5-footer to grab the lead alone at 6-under.

By then, a sizable home-course gallery had converged to where Thornton was. And he was having fun with it, too, interacting with some of the club members.

"If you're too much in the zone, it can detract from having fun," Thornton said.

At 5-under playing the final par-5 hole, all Griffin needed was a birdie to force a playoff. The Lakes High graduate faced a 70-yard uphill third shot, but caught too much earth, and not enough ball as his ball came up short.

The errant shot led to a bogey.

"You're standing over these short pitch shots, and used to hitting them off firm turf (in the desert)," said Griffin, who has been living in Palm Desert, Calif. since January, trying to qualify for the Canadian Tour.

"All of a sudden it's wet, the club digs. Before you know, you chunk it. It is what it is. Thornton played well, give him credit."

Now, maybe Thornton, who finished second in the Pacific Northwest PGA points standings last season to Seattle's Ryan Benzel, will get the appreciation he deserves.

"Recognition is great," Thornton said. "It's nice to be respected."

CHIP SHOTS
Sovay opened with a bogey, but shot 66, which tied Thornton for the best round of the week. He had 10 putts over his final nine holes to collect his third runner-up finish. "I get my momentum on the greens, and kept the ball out of the rough today so I hit a lot of greens," Sovay said. "If I get it within 20 feet, I feel I have a chance to make some putts." … Griffin will travel to north of Victoria, B.C. in a final effort to get on the Canadian Tour. He will also pursue PGA Tour Qualifying School. "I was told when I left (Tacoma C&GC), if I wanted to come back, my job would be there for me, which is a good thing to have in the back corner," Griffin said. … Nelson, the head pro at Diamond Woods Golf Club in Oregon, came to the first tee ailing. He tweaked his back, and started with a double bogey. He shot 79. … Even the club bartender fared well this week. Amateur Michael Haack placed in a tie for sixth at 215. Haack also qualified for U.S. Open sectional qualifying next month. … Thornton won $5,000 for the win; Sovay collected $3,100. … Meridian Valley CC is one of the courses being considered for the 2010 Washington Open.