Black Butte Ranch is proud of its instructional programs, boasting some of the best golf instructors in Oregon. Sometimes, though, it’s good to be reminded that the Ranch’s staff of golf professionals are awfully good players, too.

A reminder of this fact came this week at the 2016 Oregon Open Invitational, among the major championships each year in the PGA of America’s Pacific Northwest Section. At a tough Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte, two of Black Butte Ranch’s professionals made the 36-hole cut and ended in the top third of a loaded Oregon Open field of more than 190 professionals and amateurs.

George Mack Jr., Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf, and Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch’s director of golf, both finished in the money on Thursday.

Mack shot a 4-over-par 76 in Thursday’s final round to finish the 54-hole tournament at 12 over par and in a tie for 60th place. Mack, the 1990 Oregon Amateur champion and a former player on the Nike Tour (now the Web.com Tour), is accustomed to playing well in Pacific Northwest PGA events. He dominated the 2015 Pacific Northwest Section PGA Senior Championship en route to his first appearance in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

Fought struggled with a final-round 79 to land at 14 over for the tournament and in tie for 64th place. Like Mack, Fought is considered to be among the top senior golfers in the Pacific Northwest Section. Among his golf accomplishments, he has qualified for the Senior PGA Professional National Championship three times.

More than just a chance to compete against the best club professionals in the region, tournaments such as the Oregon Open allow Black Butte Ranch’s golf professionals an opportunity to get out on course and sharpen their skills.

“It is always great to get out and play golf in that kind of setting,” said Fought. “We do not get many opportunities to play competitive golf during the season, but when we do we always want to represent Black Butte Ranch and play well. And it is always nice to see the many friends we have made in the Pacific Northwest Section.”

Black Butte Ranch’s staff of golf professionals can help every golfer play better, no matter the skill level. For more information on how to take a lesson from Jeff, George, or any of our Black Butte Ranch instructors, visit blackbutteranch.com/golf/lessons-and-instructions.