Bergeson finally a champ

Billings resident saves his best round for last; Warren wins women's title

WHITEFISH - Finally!

After umpteen appearances in the Whitefish Lake Golf Club 4th of July Tournament and numerous runner-up finishes, Robb Bergeson of Billings can celebrate. He's a champion at last.

Bergeson wrapped up the 71st annual 54-hole event Saturday with his best round of the tournament, shooting a 3-under 68 on the South Course for a 210 total and a six-shot victory over Larry Iverson III of Kalispell and Shawn Tucker of Whitefish.

"Actually, it feels so cool," said Bergeson of finishing on top.

"I've been coming here for so long. This place means so much to me, my family and my friends. It feels great."

Rachel Warren, also of Billings, was a wire-to-wire victor in the women's field, holding off a late charge by Jasi Acharaya of Missoula for a two-shot victory.

Acharaya closed with a 3-under par 69 on the North Course for a 217 total. Warren shot a final 74 for a 215 score.

"I was a little nervous coming into today," Warren said.

"I had a seven-shot lead and didn't want to throw it away."

Warren, 21, says she finally relaxed after the first couple of holes and played steady golf from that point on.

"Up by two going into the final hole," she said.

"I was hitting the ball pretty well. I was definitely putting better than I was. This summer I've been focusing on my putting. That's what I didn't do well at nationals."

Warren, a senior at Rocky Mountain College, finished 21st in individual play at the NAIA Golf Tournament in Santa Barbara, Calif., in May. Rocky finished fifth as a team.

Warren was a three time individual state champ on the prep level at Billings Central.

"I'm proud of the way I played," Warren said.

"I didn't expect to win, I just wanted to play well. It's exciting to win."

Warren competed here for

the first time last year and placed third.

Last year's champion, Kelly Gillum of Fort Collins, Colo., finished third and 16 shots back.

Bergeson, 30, went into the final day of play with a one-shot lead on Kevin Sieben of Sherwood Park, Alberta, and Steve Williamson of Shelby.

"I wasn't really nervous," Bergeson said of being the leader after two rounds.

"This morning, I was excited. It's been awhile since I've been in this position when I've had the lead going into the final day."

And Bergeson responded like a true champion.

He eagled the 470-yard, par 5 sixth hole and followed with birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 12.

Tucker used birdies at Nos. 9, 10 and 11 to get within three shots of Bergeson, but that was as close as he would get.

Iverson matched Bergeson on the final day for the low round with a 68. Iverson opened with a 75 and 73.

Josh Gold of Kalispell, who won this tournament last year, finished at 232.

Gene McGlenn, 81, of Kalispell finished the tournament with a 280 total. McGlenn shot 91, 95 and 94 and competed in the sixth flight (handicap of 15-and- over). This was McGlenn's 57th straight appearance in this event and he's played in it a total of 60 times.

Men

Day Day 2-day Day 3-day

1 2 Total 3 Total

Bergeson, Robb 71 71 142 68 210

Iverson, Larry 75 73 148 68 216

Tucker, Shawn 73 73 146 70 216

Ballard, Jeff 74 73 147 72 219

Morberg, Dave 77 72 149 70 219

Lee Kelbi 80 71 151 70 221

Mehl, Cory 77 71 148 74 222

Williams, Spencer 69 79 148 74 222

Kennedy, Michael 74 76 150 74 224

Williamson, Steve 72 71 143 81 224

Hughes, Spencer 73 75 148 76 224

Krause, Sam 76 74 150 75 225

Mance, Mark 77 74 151 74 225

Eames, Dave 72 77 149 77 226

Mossfeldt, Kyle 79 72 151 75 226

Bennyhoff, Brett 78 76 154 73 227

Cloninger, Dirk 73 77 150 77 227

Kalberg, Tyler 75 76 151 76 227

Mehl, Marty 75 77 152 75 227

Swager, Ryan 77 76 153 74 227

Kerr, Jim 80 73 153 74 227

Santa, Ryan 75 75 150 78 228

Newlin, Gary 79 75 154 74 228

Sieben, Kevin 70 73 143 85 228

Hurlbert, Craig 77 75 152 77 229

Johnston, Joe 75 78 153 76 229

Linnell, Ryan 78 77 155 74 229

Kenyon, David 76 76 152 77 229

Martin, Aaron 73 77 150 80 230

Majors, Mike 79 80 159 71 230

Reimers, Rick 80 75 155 76 231

Gold, Josh 77 80 157 75 232

Streeter, Dave 77 77 154 78 232

Slocum, Cory 79 76 155 78 233

Denning, Derek 77 81 158 75 233

Brady, Rod 72 81 153 80 233

Holt, Gary 78 76 154 80 234

Berg, Ben 79 73 152 84 236

Ackerman, Bob 76 86 162 75 237

Rife, Earl 79 80 159 78 237

Moscrip, John 78 74 152 86 238

Sutton, Frank 75 81 156 82 238

Kemsley, Graham 85 78 163 75 238

Miller, Robert 81 78 159 80 239

Thurman, Andy 78 76 154 85 239

Powell, Dow 81 81 162 78 240

Kiley, Tim 72 81 153 88 241

Pacheco, John 79 75 154 88 242

Underdahl, Chad 78 79 157 85 242

Oliphant, Geoff 84 84 168 76 244

Galcher, Eric 84 81 165 79 244

MacIntyre, Bennett 84 83 167 77 244

Watson, Mike 89 79 168 76 244

Gold, Steve 82 79 161 84 245

Hatfield, Jarett 84 86 170 75 245

Waldemar, Maya 83 83 166 81 247

Wright, Bob 85 83 168 79 247

Laubach, Kyle 79 85 164 86 250

Holtan, Ramer 88 75 163 91 254

Anderson, Justin 84 82 166 92 258

Women

Day Day 2-day Day 3-day

1 2 Total 3 Total

Warren, Rachel 71 70 141 74 215

Acharaya, Jasi 74 74 148 69 217

Gillum, Kelly 80 75 155 76 231

Orcutt, Jennifer 79 79 158 75 233

Folkvord, Hillary 79 82 161 75 236

Breen, Carlie 79 83 162 76 238

Griffith, Amber 79 82 161 77 238

Ray, Chelsea 75 80 155 84 239

Montalban, Halley 81 82 163 79 242

Jacobson, Karen 83 81 164 81 245

Robinson, Nadine 84 82 166 79 245

Holt, Marcy 76 87 163 85 248

Griffith, Ashley 83 86 169 82 251

Donegan, Shannon 85 83 168 85 253

Harring, Melissa 88 90 178 81 259

Steffanich, Kate 83 82 165 95 260

Fee, Jody 84 91 175 85 260

Jenson, Maresa 86 86 172 88 260

Stevenson, Tess 84 86 170 96 266

Holiday, Rikka 88 93 181 90 271

Lacklen, Bobbie 93 92 185 90 275

Schilling, Pat 94 96 190 90 280

Roy, Tammie 93 98 191 90 281

Whisenand, Tracey 94 95 189 93 282

Anderson, Sue 92 91 183 100 283

Armstrong, Mary 97 103 200 85 285

Cheney, Jeanette 85 100 185 102 287

Maki, Lisa 98 98 196 97 293

Kemsley, Sue 101 104 205 94 299

Haydu, Sandy 94 111 205 98 303