Billings golfer Moore claims 2nd State Am title

ANACONDA — Nathan Bailey was spectacular and Joey Moore was steady — and it was Moore who won the 2023 Montana Men’s State Amateur, with a birdie on the second playoff hole Saturday.

Moore shot three straight rounds of 69, and on Saturday he closed with seven straight pars after a birdie on No. 12 at Old Works Golf Course. That left him in a tie with three-time champion Bailey, who shot 71 on Saturday, and Sean Benson of Billings, who closed with a 70.

All three players replayed No. 18 and all made par; they then moved to No. 1 and Moore, also of BIllings, knocked down a five-foot putt to claim his second State Am title.

Bailey, the Rocky Mountain College golf coach who plays at Laurel Golf Club, opened with a 66 on Thursday. On Saturday he birdied 11, bogeyed 12 and then birdied No. 14 to draw even with Moore.

Benson, who plays at The Briarwood Golf Club, birdied 17 and 18 to join the playoff.

Joey Lovell of Bozeman was fourth, three strokes back at 4-under 212; Missoula’s Sean Ramsbacher was fifth at 213.

The top local finisher was Travis Mays; the Village Greens golfer shot the low round Saturday, a 68, and finished at even-par for 54 holes. He tied for eighth with Liam O’Holloran of Billings.

Sam Engellant out of Buffalo Hill fired a 76 Saturday and ended up 24th with a three-day total of 227, 11-over.

Complete results can be found at msgagolf.org.