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TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021
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A10
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS SERIES
Kate Page/Contributed Photo
STIHL Timbersports Series competitor Kate Page
chops through a white pine log with her racing ax
during an underhand chop event at a competition in
this undated photo. Page works on a fi re crew in the
Heppner Ranger District on the Umatilla National
Forest.
Oregon native
Kate Page hopes
to make the cut
By ANNIE FOWLER
East Oregonian
EPPNER — Kate Page is no Paul Bunyan,
but the Oregon woman can swing an ax and
use a saw with the best of them.
A native of John Day, Page has been
competing in lumberjack sports since 2014,
and competed in the West Coast qualifi er
June 6 in Centralia, Washington, ahead of
the STIHL Timbersports Series July 23-25
in Little Rock, Arkansas.
“This year was different because of
COVID,” Page said. “We have to apply to get
into the STIHL series. Normally, the women
have three qualifi ers and one wild card that qualifi es.
On paper, they created pools. We compete at our near-
est qualifi er. There were fi ve at our qualifi er.”
With four qualifi er competitions throughout the
country, Page still is waiting to hear if her time gets
her to the U.S. Championships in Arkansas. She should
know by the end of the month.
“The anticipation is killing me,” Page said. “I set a
personal record in one of my events (single buck, with
a cross-cut saw), so that was a positive.”
The fi rst year women were included in the Timber-
sports Series was 2017, and they went to Cherry Valley,
New York. In 2018, the qualifi er for the women was
in Cherry Valley, and those who advanced competed
alongside the men in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Page
fi nished eighth that year.
In 2019, Page fi nished seventh at the U.S. Cham-
pionships.
“This year, I want to be in the top fi ve,” Page said.
H
STIHL Timbersports
Series competitor Kate
Page fi nished seventh at
the U.S. Championships
in 2019. Page is a native
of John Day now living in
Heppner and is looking
for a top-fi ve fi nish in
2021.
See Timber, Page A11
Kate Page/Contributed Photo
SPORTS SHORT
Union to host Oregon Junior Amateur golf tournament
Tournament returns
to Eastern Oregon for
fi rst time in 15 years
By CARLOS FUENTES
The Observer
UNION — Union will host
the Bob Norquist Oregon Junior
Amateur tournament from June
28 to July 2 at Buff alo Peak Golf
Course.
More than 100 of the best youth
golfers in Oregon will be at the
tournament, which has not taken
place in Eastern Oregon in 15
years, according to Oregon Junior
Golf Director Shanda Imlay.
“We cover all of Oregon, so
when we were looking for this
year’s location, we tried to think
about some of the places we
haven’t been to in a while,” Imlay
said. “We’re really excited to go
out to Eastern Oregon and see the
beautiful courses out there.”
The tournament will begin at
7 a.m. on June 28 and fi nish by
9 p.m. on July 2.
The Oregon Junior Amateur is
the most elite youth golf compe-
tition in Oregon, and its location
changes every year. According to
Dana Londin, general manager at
Buff alo Peak Golf Course, this will
be a good opportunity to showcase
golf courses in Eastern Oregon.
“It’s a great golf course, the
facilities are great, and the tour has
never been to Union,” Londin said.
“The event is open to the public, so
we encourage people to come out
and watch some golf.”
Golfers will range between
8 and 18 years old, and will play
within three age divisions. The
majority will come from larger
cities, such as the Portland metro
area, Eugene and Salem.
“It’s a big deal for events like
City of Union/Contributed Photo
Union will host the Bob Norquist Oregon Junior Amateur tournament
from June 28 to July 2, 2021, at Buff alo Peak Golf Course.