Missoula’s Dunn fires a 69 to lead Mid Amateur field

SHELBY – The 36th Montana State Mid-Amateur Championship kicked off Thursday from Shelby as 72 players competed at Marias Valley Golf and Country Club.

After Round 1, defending champion Bill Dunn of Missoula leads by three after shooting the only under-par round of the day with 69 (-3).

Dunn bogeyed hole five, birdied hole nine to go out in even-par 36. Dunn birdied holes 10, 13 and 14 in a bogey-free second nine score of 33.

Ken Bush of Kalispell is in second after shooting even-par 72 with sides of 36-36. Bush had two birdies and two bogeys on each side during his even-par round. Three players are tied for third. Drew Vanyo of Big Sky posted 73 (+1).

Vanyo made 15 pars, one bogey, a double bogey on 13 and eagled the par-five 17th hole. Helena’s Brady Kirkeby made two bogeys and a birdie in his opening round of 73 and Malta’s Gordon Webb made two bogeys and a birdie for his one-over-par 73.

Two-time champion, Spencer Williams of Helena struggled at the beginning of his round at five-over after four holes. Williams had no more blemishes on his card and made three birdies, including two on his second nine shooting 34 on the back for a 74 total (+2) and is solo sixth, five out of the lead.

Ross Bartell (Great Falls), Eric Nell (Missoula) and Dave Eames (Billings) and Tommy Lindell (Kalispell) each shot 75 (+3) and are tied for seventh.

Six former champions are in the field this week. Steve Williamson (2003), Dave Eames (2009), Spencer Williams (2012, 2015), Parker Heller (2014), Joe Cielak (2017) and Bill Dunn (2021).

2022 Men’s Mid Amateur Championship

Shelby

Thursday’s scores

Round 1

Bill Dunn (Missoula) 69

Ken Bush 72

Gordon Webb 73

Brady Kirkeby 73

Drew Vanyo 73

Spencer Williams 74

Ross Bartell 75

Eric Nell 75

Dave Eames 75

Tommy Lindell 75

Kyle Sheppard 76

Bob Olson 76

Dylon Meddock 76

Mike Anderson 76

James Russell 77

Dorn Brown 77

Mark Houser 77

Dylan Osterhout 77

Michael Martin 77

Parker Heller 77

Jordy Donoven 78

Chris Goldan 78

Zach Johanssen 78

Akku Acharya 78

Marshall Bettendorf 79

Todd Harper 79