Steady Bergeson takes lead
WHITEFISH - In this case, boring was good.
Robb Bergeson of Billings shot another 71 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after 36 holes of the 71st annual Whitefish Lake Golf Club 4th of July Tournament.
Kevin Sieben of Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Steve Williamson of Shelby are at 143.
"It was really pretty, pretty boring," Bergeson said of his 1-under par effort.
"I didn't get in a lot of trouble, I didn't hit anything real close."
Only four golfers finished with 1-under rounds on a stifling day when temperatures passed the century mark.
"It was hot," Bergeson said.
"I can never remember it being this hot up here before.
"You gotta stay hydrated. Obviously you try to keep (your game) together, especially the last few holes. By then, everyone is tired. I was happy to get that birdie at 18."
Williamson, Cory Mehl of Seattle and Kelbi Lee of Billings were the other three to card 71s in this 54-hole event.
Rachel Warren of Billings, however, had the honor of posting the best score of the day, shooting a 2-under 70 for a 141 total and a seven-shot edge in the women's field. Jasi Acharaya of Missoula, last year's runner-up, is holding down second place with a pair of 74s for 148 total. Defending champion Kelly Gillum of Fort Collins, Colo., is tied for third with Chelsea Ray of Whitefish at 155.
Gillum last year ran away with the title, winning 12 strokes.
Warren is now trying to duplicate Gillum's effort by being a wire-to-wire champion.
The women played the South Course on Friday, which measures 5,361 yards with par at 72. The men were on the North Course, which stretches 6,797 yards. Par is also 72.
Bergeson made the turn at 35, posting back-to-back birdies at Nos. 4-5. He chipped in front the edge of the green at the par-3, 203 yard fourth hole.
Bergeson then shot a 36 on the back nine.
"I played pretty steady all day," he said.
"I was pretty pleased, especially after yesterday when I struggled a little bit. I had a couple of bad holes, a couple doubles."
Bergeson said he made the par putts Friday when he had to, especially those in the three- to six-foot range.
Bergeson, 30, says he's played in this event 16 times. He's been the runner-up the last two.
"Finished second I think eight times," he said.
"I've never won it.
"I can't even really remember (leading going into the final round). I don't know that for sure."
Bergeson says he cut back on his summer tournament scheduled, devoting more time to family and work.
"I make sure this tournament is on my calendar every year.
"The people, a good course and such a great time. I can't pass it up."
Spencer Williams of Great Falls, who led Thursday's opening session with a 69, ballooned to a 79. That left him at 148, six shots off the pace.
Shawn Tucker of Whitefish is four shots behind Bergeson with a 146. Tucker has posted scores of 73 and 73.
Two men matched par Friday, Dave Morberg of Whitefish and Kyle Mossfeldt of Calgary. Morberg sits at 149 while Mossfeldt is at 151.
Also shooting 73 on the second day were: Sieben, Jeff Ballard of Billings, Larry Iverson III of Kalispell, Carroll Lilly of Whitefish, Ben Berg of Sidney, Jim Kerr of Seattle. Iverson and Libby are tied at 148 with three other players.
Last year's champ, Josh Gold of Kalispell, 77-80-157, is 15 shots behind Bergeson.
Tournament play concludes today.
Men
Day 1 Day 2 Total
Bergeson, Robb 71 71 142
Sieben, Kevin 70 73 143
Williamson, Steve 72 71 143
Tucker, Shawn 73 73 146
Ballard, Jeff 74 73 147
Williams, Spencer 69 79 148
Hughes, Spencer 73 75 148
Iverson, Larry 75 73 148
Lilly, Carroll 75 73 148
Mehl, Cory 77 71 148
Eames, Dave 72 77 149
Morberg, Dave 77 72 149
Perlinski, Jamey 79 70 149
Cloninger, Dirk 73 77 150
Mehl, Marty 75 77 152
Kenyon, David 76 76 152
Brady, Rod 72 81 153
Kiley, Tim 72 81 153
Streeter, Dave 77 77 154
Bennyhoff, Brett 78 76 154
Holt, Gary 78 76 154
Thurman, Andy 78 76 154
Newlin, Gary 79 75 154
Pacheco, John 79 75 154
Linnell, Ryan 78 77 155
Slocum, Cory 79 76 155
Sutton, Frank 75 81 156
Gold, Josh 77 80 157
Underdahl, Chad 78 79 157
Denning, Derek 77 81 158
Rife, Earl 79 80 159
Majors, Mike 79 80 159
Gasser, Dennie 77 83 160
Ackerman, Bob 76 86 162
Roher, Brandann 77 86 163
Patterson, Chris 77 87 164
Laubach, Kyle 79 85 164
Lemieux, Neil 78 92 170
Women
Day 1 Day 2 Total
Warren, Rachel 71 70 141
Acharaya, Jasi 74 74 148
Gillum, Kelly 80 75 155
Ray, Chelsea 75 80 155
Orcutt, Jennifer 79 79 158
Folkvord, Hillary 79 82 161
Griffith, Amber 79 82 161
Breen, Carlie 79 83 162
Holt, Marcy 76 87 163
Montalban, Halley 81 82 163
Jacobson, Karen 83 81 164
Steffanich, Kate 83 82 165
Robinson, Nadine 84 82 166
Donegan, Shannon 85 83 168
Griffith, Ashley 83 86 169
Stevenson, Tess 84 86 170
Jenson, Maresa 86 86 172
Harring, Melissa 88 90 178