Malta’s Webb wins Montana Mid-Amateur golf tournament

SHELBY – Gordon Webb of Malta won the 36th Montana State Mid-Amateur Championship at Marias Valley Golf and Country Club in Shelby on Saturday.

Webb posted a three-day total of 210 (-5), four shots ahead of runner-up Ross Bartell of Great Falls.

The 2008 State Amateur Champion, Webb entered the final round two shots ahead of Spencer Williams. Williams made birdies on holes one and four to wrestle the lead away when Webb made a bogey on hole three.

Webb birdied holes 7 and 8, while Williams bogeyed hole eight. From there, Webb would not relinquish the lead again.

During his final round, Webb made five birdies (holes 7, 8, 14, 15 and 17) and four bogeys to post a one-under-par 71 to go along with his opening 73 and second-round 66, which was the low round of the tournament and earned him the Dick Pittman Award for the lowest score of the Mid-Amateur.

Bartell picked up his second runner-up finish at the Mid-Amateur as he finished with 71 (-1) with three birdies in the final round to go along with two bogeys for his 71 and 214 total (-2) for the championship.

Defending champion, Bill Dunn of Missoula, finished tied for third and claimed the Joe Tomes Trophy for the second-consecutive year.

The Tomes Trophy is awarded to the player age 50 and above who shoots the lowest tournament total. Dunn shot 215 (-1) thanks to a final round of 70 (-2).

Brady Kirkeby of Helena was tied with Dunn for third with a final round of 71 (-1). Spencer Williams was fifth overall at 218 after a final round of 77.

Eric Nell (Missoula) was sixth with 222, Dorn Brown (Helena) was seventh at 223, Jordy Donoven (Gildford) was eighth with 224 and rounding out the top-ten were Ken Bush (Kalispell), Drew Vanyo (Big Sky) and Kyle Sheppard (Havre) at 225 in a tie for ninth.

Green Meadow Country Club (Helena) won the Gene Cook Cup, which is awarded to the golf course/club with the lowest two-day, two-person team score.

On day one, Brady Kirkeby shot 73 and Spencer Williams shot 74. On day two, Williams posted 67 and Bennett MacIntyre fired a 70 for a two-day team score of 284 (-4).