Ilwaco High School alum Blake Kukula takes a swing.

WARRENTON — The Grand Champions division crowned a first-time winner, Gretchen Johnson made a triumphant return to the coast and five other divisions completed match play Saturday at the Astoria Golf & Country Club on the final day of the 2023 Oregon Coast Invitational.

In its 112th year, Oregon’s second longest-running tournament saw a record number of divisions competing with over 400 golfers taking part.

In addition, the tournament highlighted the 100th anniversary of the Astoria Country Club itself, founded in June 1923.

Saturday was a highlight day for Blake Kukula, as the Ilwaco High School graduate won his first Grand Championship, defeating Joey Hayden in the title match.

The pair played 35 holes of golf Saturday, with Kukula — entering his senior year as a golfer at Seattle University — finally prevailing 2 and 1 over Hayden, a sophomore at Santa Clara University.

Both golfers held leads over the first nine holes, Hayden with a 2-up lead through eight. Kukula grabbed a 1-up lead on the 11th, was 2-up after 18, and maintained a slim advantage through the eighth hole of the afternoon round.

Hayden pulled even on the ninth hole (27th), but Kukula gradually rebuilt and maintained his lead on the back nine.

Eleven-time Oregon Coast Invitational champion Lara Tennant and one-time champion Gretchen Johnson both made their returns to the Coast Invitational after a three-year absence. They picked up where they left off in 2019, battling for the Women’s title on the final day.

Just as it was four years ago, Johnson scored the victory. She took a 1-up lead on the sixth hole and won eight straight holes to extend her lead to 8-up through 13, firing a six-under 67 in the morning round. Johnson ended the match after nine holes of the afternoon round.

Other championship flight division winners included Steve George (Juniors/Seniors), who defeated Mike Fritz in Saturday’s final; and Michael Kloenne got past John Holtmann in the final of the men’s Seniors division.

The Women’s Seniors championship flight winner was Sharon Bradley, who defeated 2021 champion Cathi Barta; Jeff Leinassar won his seventh overall Oregon Coast Invitational championship, and second at the Super Seniors level; and Jon Palmberg was the first championship flight winner in the new Legends (75-and-over) division.