Ramsey lost to Garland in Billings

The Daily Inter Lake

BILLINGS Oh, so close.

Bigfork s Ron Ramsey had his goal within reach Thursday of defending his Montana State Senior Golf championship, but it slipped away.

Bozeman s Ron Garland won the Montana State Senior Golf Association Tournament championship on his first try shooting a 4-under-par 68 at Laurel Golf Club and winning by five strokes.

The 59-year-old Garland led Ramsey by one stroke heading into Thursday s play. With seven holes left in the tournament, only two strokes separated Garland and the 61-year-old Ramsey. But Garland pulled away with a string of birdies on holes 11 through 14.

Garland shot a 54-hole total of 6-under-par 209. Ramsey, who closed with an even-par 72, finished at 1-under 214.

Montana City s Ben Schmitt also fired a final-round 68 to place in a title for third at 217 with Fred Kazmierski and Kelly McLean of Billings.

The three-day seniors tournament drew over 330 golfers between the ages of 55 and 85 to Billings. The event was played on the Peter Yegen, Lake Hills and Laurel Golf Club courses.

Nine golfers from northwest Montana participated within the four classes of flights: freshman (ages 55-62), sophomores (ages 63-69), juniors (ages 70-77) and seniors (ages 78 and older). There were 12 freshmen flights, nine sophomore flights, five junior flights and two senior flights.

Ramsey and Garland both participated in the freshman first flight.

Kalispell s Bill Redmond carded an 83-81-88 252 to place fourth in the junior first flight. Bigfork s Jim Hansen placed fourth in the junior second flight with an 86-80-88 254. Kalispell s Maurice Buls shot an 89-95-84 268 in the sophomore fifth flight. Kalispell s Neil Dunham shot a 90-92-91 273 to win the sophomore eighth flight. Bigfork s Jim Valentino shot an 88-88-99 275 in the freshman fifth flight. Kalispell s Theodore Witzel placed second in the junior fourth flight with a 102-102-90 294. Joe Harris of Kalispell carded a 97-105-98 300 in the junior fifth flight. Polson s Johnny Ashcraft withdrew from the freshman, flight 2, after a two-round 82-75 157.