Hole-in-one highlights second day of Earl Hunt tourney
WHITEFISH – The beauty of the Flathead Valley was on full display as blue skies and crystal clear views of Big Mountain set the tone for round two of the 86th annual Earl Hunt 4th of July golf tournament Friday at Whitefish Lake Golf Club.
A hole-in-one by Florida State alumni Drew Kittleson on hole 14 using a six iron was the talk of the town as both competitors and spectators marveled at the accomplishment. Kittleson fired a 68 and sits two strokes off the leader, Drew Stoltz.
“It was crazy," said two-time tournament champion Andrew Medley of Scottsdale, who was competing in the event for the 10th time and is currently sitting in 11th place through round two. "Every year gets better and better."
Stoltz also carded a 68, and Joey Moore is one stroke behind in second. In seventh, Joey Lawrence shot the lowest round of the day, a 66.
Defending women’s champion Jasi Acharya extended her lead to eight strokes with a 76. Cora Rosanova shot a 75 to move into second place, and Teigan Avery’s 78 put her into third.
Despite near perfect conditions throughout the tournament, the grounds crew had to overcome the challenges provided by the unusual amount of late spring rain and snow the Flathead Valley received this year.
"May and June weather was a concern, but hats off to our ground crew for being a bunch of professionals and getting the course in excellent condition," Tim Olson, the club’s head golf professional, said.
Olson notes the "playing conditions are maybe as good as they can possibly get."
Golfers from around Montana as well as Alberta, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah made the trip for this year’s tournament.
"The event serves as a great way to show off Whitefish and our golf course," Olson said.
Olson credited this year's field of golfers as being extremely talented with experience ranging from players with professional experience, current college athletes, and former highschool stars.
Despite the competitive nature, Olson said the tournament “turns into somewhat of a family reunion where people gather once per year.”
Which was the perfect way to describe the atmosphere on day two of the tournament, where there was no shortage of handshakes, hugs, smiles and warm greetings between those in attendance making it an excellent way to tee off the holiday weekend in style.
The final day of the tournament is today, with tee-times starting at 7:20 a.m. Men will take the North Course, women the South Course.
86th Earl Hunt Memorial 4th of July golf
Friday
Round 2
Men
Championship flight
Drew Stoltz (Scottsdale, AZ) 67-68—135
Joey Moore (Billings) 67-69–136
Drew Kittleson (Scottsdale) 69-68—137
Kade McDonough (Missoula) 67-72—139
Byron Olson (Houston) 70-72—142
Jason Johnstone (Scottsdale, AZ) 71-71—142
Riley Lawrence (Helena) 78-66—144
Liam Clancy (Billings) 72-72—144
Joe Wagner (Whitefish) 71-73—144
Justin Dorr (Spokane) 72-73—145
Andrew Medley (Scottsdale, AZ) 68-77—145
Joey Lovell (Bozeman) 68-78—146
Oscar Maxfield (Salt Lake City) 73-74—147
Kyle Mossfeldt (Calgary) 76-71—147
Dan Conkling (Whitefish) 69-78—147
First flight
Shawn Tucker (Whitefish) 71-73–144
Spencer Williams (Helena) 69-76–145
Tyler Avery (Kalispell) 74-73—147
Scott Friggle (Round Rock, Texas) 80-69—149
Arthur Doorn (Whitefish) 73-76—149
Second flight
Ryan Santa (Kalispell) 74-75—149
Brock Robillard (Calgary) 81-70—151
Jarek Shepherd (Conrad) 76-76—152
Tim Kiley (Kalispell) 75-79—154
Josh Dellinger (Columbia Falls) 75-79—154
Third flight
Brad Cox (Whitefish) 74-80—155
Kelly Kolstad (Seattle) 77-82—159
Doug Honkamp (Cave Creek, AZ) 87-76—163
Jeff Fairlee (Parker, AZ) 83-81–164
Noah Wolf (Carlsbad, CA) 83-82–165
Senior
Championship flight
Bill Dunn (Missoula) 71-74—145
Brad Grattan (Whitefish) 77-75—152
Gene Walsh (Whitefish) 79-77—156
Gregory Hertzer (Whitefish) 80-76—156
Ron Rambacher (Missoula) 80-77—157
First flight
Andy Briedenbach (Sammamish, WA) 82-79—161
Kirk Bennett (Lakeville, MN) 80-84–164
John Brubaker (Whitefish) 84-81—165
John Rottger (Lethbridge, AB, CA) 84-82—166
Tom Shea (Kalispell) 86-80—166
Women
Championship flight
Jasi Acharya (Carver, MN) 72-76—148
Cora Rosanova (Bozeman) 81-75—156
Teigan Avery (Kalispell) 79-78—157
Emma Woods (Fairfield) 77-81—158
Morgan O’Neil (Laurel) 77-85—162
Hannah Rosanova (Bozeman) 80-82—162
Tricia Joyce 79-83—162
Kinsey Irvin (Lewistown) 82-81—163
Jordan Briggs (Livermore, BC, CA) 84-79—163
Shealyn Hafer (Missoula) 85-79—164
Marcella Mercer (Kalispell) 83-84—167
Bella Johnson (Billings) 87-85—172
Cathie Tronson (Great Falls) 88-85—173
Kenzie Walsh (Billings) 92-83—174
First flight
Marcy Holt (Spokane) 75-79—154
Shelby DeVore (San Antonio, TX) 83-80—163
Karen Jacobson (Whitefish) 85-82—167
Stella Claridge (Kalispell) 84-84—168
Bobbie Lacklen (Libby) 86-84–170
Kathy Dodd (Whitefish) 87-87–174
Lauren Mayala (Billings) 91-84—175
Linda Ray (Whitefish) 86-90—176
Rebecca Washington (Billings) 87-91—178
Trina Diehl (Kalispell) 91-88—179