Duo back to defend 4th of July golf titles

The Daily Inter Lake

Jeff Ballard of Billings and Devon Newell of Helena return to defend their titles in the 70th annual 4th of July Golf Tournament.

The three-day event gets under way today at 7 a.m. at Whitefish Lake Golf Course. Final tee times daily are 1:30 p.m.

Ballard, a runner-up in 2003, blew the field away in last year's stroke-play event, winning by seven shots with a 67-69-69-205. That score was a tournament record 10-under par.

Scott Anderson of Great Falls tied for second with Nick Obie at 212. In the process, Anderson, a recent graduate of Ohio State University, was denied a three-peat.

Anderson now plans to pursue a professional golf career.

Newell took top honors, shooting 76-72-71-219. Darah Newell was second, 79-70-74-223.

Total entries for this year's event is 220, a full field.

Mike Micklewright, teaching professional at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, says the course is in "fantastic shape."

There will be a golf derby for ladies 4:30 p.m. today and for the men on Friday, also at 4:30.

The top 20 best scores, men and women, qualify for that event.

The men's field is again very strong with 35 golfers sporting a handicap of zero or one.

Previous champions entered are Brett Bennyhoff of Great Falls, Dave Morberg of Whitefish and Luke Scrymgeour of Calgary.

A couple of names to watch for are Robb Bergeson of Billings, Jason Johnstone and Carroll Lilly, both of Whitefish.

Ladies expected to challenge Devon Newell are Jasi Acharya of Columbus, Kylie Anderson of Great Falls, Sarah Ogle of Kalispell and Jennifer Orcutt of Conrad.

Anderson is a former champ.