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Thornberry ties for 10th in qualifying round
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Ryan Thornberry flew home from Washington on Friday. The junior-to-be at Cal State Stanislaus and 2002 Ceres High graduate played in two amateur golf tournaments in the span of eight days.

"It was pretty tiresome," said Thornberry, who turned 20 on Sunday. "I got an extra day to rest up there afterwards. The last day I was there, I did exactly nothing. I watched the U.S. Open and relaxed."

Thornberry lost his opening-round of match play at the 103rd Pacific Northwest Amateur Championship, the second leg of the Western Golf Swing, on Wednesday. Larry Daniels, a 52-year-old mid-amateur from Seattle, defeated Thornberry 2 and 1.

"I did all right in the qualifying round," Thornberry said. "I didn't play very well (during match play). I struggled a little bit. He (Daniels) played well on the back nine. He's definitely a good player."

The Pacific Northwest tournament, which was held at Overlake Golf & Country Club in Bellevue, Wash., July 12-17, featured a 36-hole stroke play qualifying round followed by single-elimination match play (one championship flight of 64 players).

Thornberry tied for 10th with Washington's Jordan Madison, Chris Morrow and Greggory Lavoie at the end of qualifying. All four players finished with a two-day total of 145.

Thornberry had five birdies, eight pars and five bogeys en route to firing an even-par 71 on Tuesday, July 13.

He shot even-par 35 on the front nine. He birdied the No. 8 and 9 holes.

He shot 2-under 36 on the back nine. He birdied the No. 10, 17 and 18 holes.

Thornberry opened with a 3-over 74 on Monday, July 12.

He shot 1-over 36 on the front nine and 2-over 38 on the back nine.

Thornberry had two birdies, 10 pars and five bogeys in the round.

Thornberry's stay in Washington was pleasant because he didn't have to check in and out of hotels. He stayed with Dean Kain and his family. The former Cal State Stanislaus Golfer, who earned All-America honors all four years (1980-1984), was inducted into the Warrior Hall of Fame in 2001.

"It was nice," Thornberry said.

Thornberry finished 22nd in a field of 35 at the 11th Sahalee Players Championship--the first leg of amateur golf's Western Swing--held at Sahalee Golf & Country Club in Sammamish, Wash., July 7-10.

With a little practice, Thornberry should be prepared to compete in the Merced County Amateur Championship at Merced Golf and Country Club, July 24-25, and U.S. Amateur Section Qualifying Tournament at Valley Hi Country Club in Elk Grove on July 26.

"I need to sharpen my short game and work on my putting," he said. "I should be ready to go if I work those things out."