Tucker, Iverson in the hunt at 4th of July tourney
WHITEFISH - A pair of local leaderboard regulars are in the chase for the men's title at the 74th annual Earl Hunter Memorial 4th of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club on Thursday.
Shawn Tucker of Whitefish sits tied for first with four others after shooting a 1-under 71 on the North Course. Kalispell native Larry Iverson is one shot back after carding a 72.
Darah Newell of Helena took the lead on the ladies' side with a 1-over 73 on the South Course.
Kalispell's Tess Stevenson is four shots back and Polson's Julia DiGiallonardo is five back.
Both Iverson and Tucker were runners-up in 2007. Iverson finished fifth last year and Tucker tied for 17th.
This year's field, which is considered one of the strongest men's grouping in the state, has 240 participants - 190 men and 50 women.
Jens Bracht from Seattle, Wash., won on the men's side last year after shooting a 68-69-70. Rose Stepanek of Billings won on the women's with 69-78-76. Both held their first-day lead throughout the three-day tournament.
On Thursday, Stepanek shot a 8-over 80. Kiley McConnell of Whitefish is in the top running after shooting a 6-over 78.
Whitefish's Mark Mance shot a 1-over 73 on the men's side.
74th annual Earl Hunt Memorial
4th of July Tournament
Whitefish Lake Golf Club
Thursday's results
Men
Dave Eames, Billings 71
Shawn Tucker, Whitefish 71
Marcus Williams, Missoula 71
Barry Barker, Columbus 71
Jeff Ballard, Billings 72
Larry Iverson, Kalispell 72
Darren Rowell, Missoula 72
Ryan Swagar, Scottsdale, Ariz. 72
Mark Mance, Whitefish 73
Cory Mehl, Seattle, Wash. 73
Jake Wagner, Portland, Ore. 73
Gordon Webb, Malta 73
Michael Watson, Whitefish 73
Rob Bergeson, Billings 74
Howard Broun, Calgary, AB 74
Craig Hulbert, Woodlands, Texas 74
Jon Johnstone, Havre 74
Kyle Mossfeldt, Calgary, AB 74
Geoff Oliphant, Billings 74
Bill Dunn, Missoula 75
John Moscrip, Issaquah, Wash. 75
Byron Olson, Calgary, AB 75
Joel Mallams, Whitefish 75
Jeff Bengston, Hayden, Idaho 75
Tom Hoover, Valier 75
Logan Iverson, Kalispell 75
Women
Darah Newell, Helena 73
Tess Stevenson, Kalispell 77
Erin King, Billings 77
Julia DiGiallonardo, Polson 78
Kiley McConnell, Whitefish 78
Kelsie Crippen, Missoula 79
Leslie McGetrick, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 79
Chelsea Ray, Whitefish 79
Rose Stepanek, Billings 80
Maggie Crippen, Missoula 81
Morgan Lee, Missoula 81
Tracey Whisenand, Whitefish 81
Lindsay Erickson, Helena 83
Marcy Holt, Spokane, Wash. 83
Erin Heaney, Anaconda 83
Kylie Perlinski, Bozeman 83
Breanna Cameron, Whitefish 84
Natalie Beard, Great Falls 85
Ashley Griffith, San Francisco, Calif. 85
Melissa Harring, Brush Prairie, Wash. 85