SCOTT ANDERSON IS STATE MENS AMATEUR CHAMPION

It's been a pretty good year for Great Falls' Scott Anderson but he capped it all when he won the 2004 Montana State Men's Amateur Championship. Anderson earlier this year was named captain of the Ohio State golf team (a position held previously by a guy named Jack Nicklaus); finished second at the prestigious Whitefish Fourth of July Tournament and qualified for the match play portion of the Pacific Northwest Amateur. But he has wanted to win the State Amateur since he was a kid - and now he has. Anderson struggled with a balky putter, particularly on short putts inside 6 feet, throughout the four day event at Whitefish's short but tricky North Course but he made enough on all of the other kinds of shots you have to have in your bag to win his first State Am title. One putt, however, Anderson is likely to remember. On Thursday in the third round of the 87th State Amateur Anderson got a lead and a lift that was a big factor in his ultimate victory. On the 9th hole he rolled in a 30-foot curling putt for an eagle three that vaulted him into the lead and was a boot toward his ultimate two shot victory margin over Josh Gold of Kalispell. He had been tied with Gold at the midpoint but picked up a shot in each of the final rounds. The tourney opened with Casey Keyser of Kalispell taking the lead with a four under 68. He was followed at 69 by Kelbi Lee of Billings, and Nick Obie of Havre. Gold was three back and Anderson four. Anderson got back in the mix during the second 18 with a 69 and stayed there until the end. He ended his efforts with a three-under 285. Gold was tied for second at 287 with Spencer Williams of Great Falls who came out of the pack with a final round 70. Lee, who had followed his opening 69 with an unsteady 79, came back with rounds of 72 and 71 to finish alone in fourth place. The final results are HERE.   (RIGHT) CHAMPIONS SWING - Scott Anderson of Great Falls demonstrates the swing which carried him to the championship in the Montana Mens Amateur.     (LEFT) PGA Professional Mike Miklewright gets an early morning group started at the Men's Amateur in Whitefish. (LEFT) 2004 STATE AMATEUR CHAMPION - Scott Anderson with Whitefish Head Pro Tim Olson. (RIGHT) CASEY KEYSER & JUSTIN DORR - 2004 Barnett Cup winners from Buffalo Hill.

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS

Jeff Ballard of Billings brought a major league game to the Flathead Valley over the Fourth of July.

The former big league pitcher opened the Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake opened the tourney with a 5-under 67 on the North Course at the lakeside layout and never looked back posting a 54-hole total of 205, His winning total was the best score in the 69-year history of this event beating the old record of 208 posted in 1988 by Aaron Bengoechea of Billings.

On the women's side the event turned into a bit of a family fued if you will as Devon Newell of Helena edged her younger sister Darah by three shots. Devon, who plays college golf for New Mexico State, posted an even par 71 on the final day on the South Course and a three day total of 7- over 219. Her sister, a rising senior at Helena High, finished at 223 to beat out first round leader Jennifer Orcutt of Conrad and Jasi Achayra of Columbus who both finished at 224.

Good as it was Ballard's opening round didn't push him clear of the field. After the opening round Mike McNally, also of Billings, was only two shots back and two time champion Scott Anderson of Great Falls was still in the hunt at 70. But then Ballard reeled off a 69 on the South course and widened his gap to 5 over Anderson and 6 over Steve Williamson of Shelby all but assuring him of the title. Anderson won at Whitefish on two prior occasions by coming back from far off the pace on the final day. This time however Ballard wasn't about the let the newly named Ohio State captain back into the mix.

The storied tournament annually attracts a quality field of golfers from throughout the western part of the United States.

In the crowd pleasing long drive contest, held after the final round, Orcuttook the
women's competition with a poke of 245 yards. The men's long drive champ Luke Scrymgeour of Calgary blasted his winning drive 325.

The Scores:
(TOP) RECORD SETTING - Jeff Ballard of Billings show a record three round score in winning the Fourth of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake. (ABOVE) WHITEFISH WINNER - Devon Newell of Helena is shown with her trophy after winning the Whitefish Lake Fourth of July Tournament.

NEW HALL OF FAMER

Jill (Johnson) Rettinger formerly of Butte and now of Laramie, Wyo. is the newest inductee to the Montana Womens Golf Association Hall of Fame. Rettinger started her career in Butte and after a successful high school career played college golf at Washington State where she earned Honorable Mention Academic All Conference honors and was a member of the Pac- 10 All Star Team that toured the Orient in 1988. After college she returned to her native state and copped the 1990 Womens State Amateur and finished second in, both 1989 and 1991.

Jill Johnson Rettinger

She then played on the Player's West Golf Tour for three seasons.

In 1994 Rettinger was named as assistant golf coach for both the men's and women's teams at Washington State. While there she was involved in all aspects of managing a college golf program from instructing to recruiting and budgeting.

She was hired as the women's golf coach at the University of Wyoming in 1997, a post she currently holds. The new inductee, who is a Class B member of he LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Division has previously served an assistant pro at Washington State University Golf Course and staff assistant at Butte Country Club. - Information courtesy Montana State Womens Golf Association.

PLAYOFF DECIDES MONTANA SENIORS

For the first time in a number of years the 2004 Montana Mens Seniors Championship was decided in a playoff - short as it was.

Jim Van Fossen of Missoula beat out Jack Thompson of Bozeman on the first playoff hole not only winning his first state title but ending the two year reign of
Dave Morberg of Kalispell as Seniors titleholder.

Van Fossen and Thompson both negotiated the three Bozeman courses used in the tourney in identical 6 over par scores of 219. They started the playoff on the 10th hole at Riverside Country Club where both had played their final rounds and both reached the putting surface of the 490-yard par 5. Van Fossen then stroked a 15-foot sidehiller into the hole for a birdie to win the playoff and the title.

Van Fossen 56, is a 1-handicap and has won three club championships at Larchmont in Missoula and another three at the University of Montana course. Thompson, one the other hand has never won a significant individual tournament.

The champion opened his title quest with a two-over par effort at Bridger Creek but then stumbled somewhat with a 4-over at the tight Valley View but then posted a strong even par 72 at Riverside. His even par round was the best of the breezy final round. Thompson had opened with a 74 at Bridger Creek and then got into contention with a two-over 72 at Valley View. Thompson played his final round with Doug Ford, the 36-hole leader and two time champion Morberg and beat both by a shot in gaining his playoff spot. Ford and Morberg both finished at 220 - one shot out of the playoff. Former champion Tom Gai of Billings was fifth
at 221 and Kelly McLean of Billings grabbed sixth with a 222.

Ford lost his chance at the title with a double bogey on his 13th hole and a missed putt bogey on the final hole while Morberg's chances were literally lost on the sixth hole of the day when his tee shot was unfindable.

Thompson won some consolation by grabbing Freshman honors in the age group play. Gai copped the Sophomore (age 63-69) diadem with his 221; former champ Lloyd Saunders won the Junior (age 70-77) competition and Les Barnes topped the Senior division 78 and over with a credible 251 on rounds of 88, 79, 84.

The tournament, which is the largest in Montana in terms of number of entries will be contested in 2005 in Missoula and Van Fossen will be on hand.

(LEFT) NICE PUTT - Jim Van Fossen of Missoula strokes the winning putt in the Montanaman Seniors. This putt, a side hiller of about 15 feet, rolled into the cum on the first playoff hole and gave Van Fossen his first statewide title.

MONTANA GIRLS DOWN LIST AT JUNIOR AMERICA'S CUP

The Montana contingent at the Girls America's Cup in Colwood, British Columbia, did what most of their predecessors have done - played well but not well enough. The Treasure State time in this annual meeting of some of the finest junior women in the hemisphere put together some creditable scores. However, their efforts were overshadowed by the accomplishment of the young golfers where golf is a year around sport.

The Montana team was led by Darah Newell of Helena who had rounds of 80, 83 and 79 for 242. Hillary Folkvord of Three Forks had 267, Erin Metzger of Bozeman finished with 268 and Maresa Jenson of Whitefish carded a 274. This amounted to a 774 total. Southern California won the team title with a 663 total. Mari Chum of Hawaii captured the individual title with a 214.

STEFFES, NEWELL WIN JUNIORS

Louden Steffes of Huntley and Helena's Darah Newell captured the 2004 Montana State Golf Association Junior Championships at Laurel Golf Club.

Newell won the 36-hole girls title by a whopping 23 strokes while Steffes had to post and even par 72 final nine to win the boys title by 3 shots over Tyler Holtet of Whitefish and Tyson Bickford of Great Falls.

Steffes, who was playing in the 14-15 age group was out of the lead after the first day after posting a 3-over par 75. At that point he trailed Geoff Oliphant of Billings (73) and Aaron Brown of Thompson Falls (74) and was in a tie with Holtet and Bickford. The final round par 72 however allowed him to pass all of his fellow competitors and take the title. He qualified for the Junior Americas Cup team along with Holtet who won the boys 16-17 division and Bickford. Oliphant edged Gordon Webb of Malta in a four hole playoff for the fourth spot on the squad. K.C. Kindle of Mata, fired and 80-77-157 to cop the boys 13 -under crown. Webb was later added to the team when Oliphant had a scheduling conflict with a tournament in Florida.

Newell had a much easier time. She carded fine rounds of 74 and 73 for a 147 total and took the girls 16-17 title. Hilary Folkvord of Three Forks finished second with 82-88-170. Those two along with Erin Metzger of Bozeman and Maresa Jenson of - Whitefish made up the girls Americas Cup team. Chelesa Ray of Whitefish took the girls 14-15 crown with a 185 total and Morgan lee of Great Falls copped the 13 and under crown with a 205 total.

The scoring summary is available HERE.

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Steve Sullivan of Missoula has been named to replace Fred Olson on the board-of directors of the Montana State Golf Association. Olson retired this fall after 28 years of faithful service to the game in the state of Montana.

The new board member was born and raised in Butte and spent his formative years on the Butte Country Club course. He attended the University of Montana from 1968 to 1973 and while there was a member of the Grizzly golf team (this is when the Griz still fielded a mens team). Sullivan was in the beer distribution business for 21 years primarily with Zip Beverage where he was the sales supervisor. For the past 8 years he has been employed as a financial advisor with Piper, Jaffray & Co in Missoula.

Sullivan will be no stranger to the work a board of directors performs. He was a member of the board of directors at Missoula Country Club for three years and served as president of the Garden City course for one year.

Sullivan and his wife Elizabeth have a full house. He is the father to two children and four step- children. The new board member says golf has been part of his life since his early years and "I look forward to putting in time on the MSGA Board."

BIG PUTT, BIG TITLE FOR REEVES

John Reeves rolled in a 30-foot bending putt on the final hole to win the Montana Mid-Amateur Golf Championship and become the first Helena golfer to win one of the state's adult "majors" in many years.

Reeves putt from just off the fringe on 18 at the Butte Country Club allowed him to take his first lead of the day and beat fellow Helena golfer Parker Heller and former Mis Am champ Rick Lyons of Butte by two shots. Reeves had fired a three under 67 in the occasional rainy first round and followed with a 72. His breaking putt at 18 the last day allowed him to shoot an even par 70 which included a 3 -under 32 on the back nine at the short but tricky BCC course.

Heller had been in control going into the final round with a 4-under 136 total but double bogied out of the sand on the final hole for a closing 75.

Bill Leach of Bozeman finished fourth in the tourney which is open to Montana men over the age of 30, with a 212. He was followed by Tim Garden of Helena at 213, Kelly Gilligan of Great Falls at 214 and Mark Nedrud, the first day leader, of Missoula at 215.

Reeves, Heller and Garden collected the Gene Cook Cup for Bill Roberts Golf Course, The Cook Cup goes annually to the lowest three-man team in the event.

COLUMBUS GOLFER TAKES WOMEN'S AM TITLE

Jasi Acharya of Columbus used a steady game to fend off the win and her rivals to win the 2004 Montana Womens Amateur Golf Tournament at Mission Mountain Country Club in Ronan.

Acharya, a junior on the University of Montana golf team, entered the final round of the event trailing Britney Hayes of Bozeman, the 2002 State Womens champ by three big shots. Hayes had posted a four under total of 139 during the first two rounds but then in the windy third round lost her lead by posting a 4-over 40 on the front side. She then fell further back with a bogey on the 10th Hayes, however, refused to give up and climbed back into a tie for the lead after 16. A three put bogey on 17 which Acharya was parring ended her threat.

Joanie Steele of Missoula, who is Acharya's coach at Montana, and who is always a contender in this event finished third while Sarah Ogle of Kalispell and Rachel Warren of Billings tied for fourth.

Robin Koontz of Missoula, who posted rounds of 74,76 and 82 for a 232 total, won the Montana Senior Womens championship. She was followed by Gerry Jovanovich of Fort Benton with a 244 and Sheila Penaluna of Butte at 246.

This is the first time the 5,441 yard Mission Mountain course has hosted a state event of any kind. The event attracted a field of 145 women golfers from throughout the state. The State Womens Tournament will be contested next year at Green Meadow Country Club in Helena.

CHAMP & HER COURT - Womens State Amateur Champion Jasi Acharya of Columbus (left) is shown with runnerup Britney Hayes of Bozeman and third place finisher Joanie Steele of Missoula.

McNALLY, ANDERSON MAKE MATCH PLAY ROUND IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST AMATEUR

Mike McNally of Billings and Scott Anderson of Great Falls both qualified for the match play round of the 103rd Pacific Northwest Amateur but then failed in their bids to advance beyond the opening round.

McNally made the cut of 64 from the original field of 167 with a two over par, qualifying score of 144, tying him for eighth. He was defeated in his opening match 5 and 3 by Andrew Lovas of )White Rock, British Columbia.

Anderson qualified with a 148 total tying him for 48th. He lost his opening match 3 and 2 to Liam Kendregan of Gresham, Ore.

(ABOVE) WOMENS SENIOR CHAMPS - The top three placers in the Senior Division of the Montana Womens Amateur. Champion Robin Koontz of Missoula is at the far right, runnerup Gerry Jovanovich of Fort Benton (center) and third place finisher Shiela Penaluna of Butte.

Survey of PGA Caddies:

Q: "What's been your worst screw-up?"
A: "One year at the Match Play at La Costa, I gave my guy a yardage for the 5th hole while we were on the 6th hole. Pretty smart, huh." Anonymous

Chris Lewis, Golf Magazine, August 2004

Fall 2004 Newsletter
in PDF format

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader® to view.
Get it FREE by clicking on the icon below....

Previous Newsletters

Summer 2000
Fall 2000
Summer 2001
Summer 2002
Fall 2002
Summer 2003
Summer 2004