Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • Page 65

Setr Scoreboard State Amateur final scores 2G BasebaB results 3G Pro golf roundup 6G Great Falls Tribune Sunday, July 23, 1989 Kernaghan champ again Local star ties Larchmont mark of 1 5-under State Am leaderboard (Final results) Todd Kernaghan, Great Falls 68-70-67-68273 Chuck Eble, Billings 71-69-71-68279 Aaron Bengoechea, Billings Chet Bozdog, Helena 71-69-73-71284 Gary Durham, Bozeman 75-69-69-71284 Dave Morberg, Kallspell 71-72-71-71285 Bob O'Keefe, Bozeman 70-74-73-69286 Jon Heselwood, Blgfork 71-70-73-74288 Jim Gallup, Billings 73-71-73-73290 George Gelse, Great Falls definitely will play in the 1990 State Am at Yellowstone Country Club in Billings, and "most likely the following year." He eventually plans to turn professional and try the PGA Tour. Eble, who matched Kernaghan's 68 Saturday, was pleased with his 9-under-par finish, although he spoke of some frustration in playing that well and still not being in serious contention. "When Todd plays like that, there's not much you can do. I didn't have a bogey all day and played real solid, so I have to be happy with my game. I gave it my best shot," said the former Helena Capital standout, who works in the pro shop at Yellowstone.

Chet Bozdog of Helena, who plays for Florida International University, had a solid 71 and shared fourth place at 284 with Gary Durham of Bozeman. Durham, a New Mexico State player, also had a 71 for his third straight sub-par round. Dave Morberg of Kalispell was sixth at 285 after his third 71 of the week, while Bozeman veteran Bob O'Keefe rallied for 69 to finish seventh at 286. Jon Heselwood of Bigfork was eighth at 288, and Jim Gallup of Billings and George Geise of Great Falls rounded out the top 10 at 290. Kernaghan's victory also allowed him to join the Montana State Golf Association Hall of Fame, and he will become its newest and youngest member later this year.

He also helped his Meadow Lark Country Club team to the Bamett Cup team title (with Roger Voyles), so the week was a sweeping success. By GEORGE GEISE Tribune Sports Editor MISSOULA Todd Kernaghan didn't know whether he would ever feel as elated about winning a golf tournament as he did in 1987 when he won his first Montana State Amateur championship at the tender age of 19. But the Great Falls star discovered Saturday his second State Am title feels even better than the first. "This feels better, you bet it does," Kernaghan said Saturday after shooting a 4-under-par 68 at Larchmont Golf Course to win the championship by a whopping six strokes over Chuck Eble of Billings. Aaron Bengoechea of Billings, the 1988 champion and Kernaghan's chief rival all week, faded to third place at 283 after an erratic 77.

"When I won the first one, Aaron wasn't even playing in Montana and Chuck didn't compete. The field is much, much better now than it was then," Kernaghan said. Saturday's resounding victory also helped to erase the memory of last summer's bitterly disappointing loss, when Bengoechea rallied on the 71st hole at Bozeman's Riverside Country Club to overtake Kernaghan and win by one stroke. "That was a tough loss, but that's golf," said Kernaghan, who tied the all-time record of 15-under-par for 72 holes. Larchmont, which played about 6,800 yards for the first three days, was stretched to 7,000 yards for the final 18 holes.

"I never expected Aaron to do anything like what he did today, but I was concentrating on my game and trying to make every shot as good as it could be. "Even though (Bengoechea) was struggling, I didn't feel any relief until about the ninth hole." By that time, Kernaghan was already 3 under par, while Bengoechea had a sloppy 5-over-par 41 and trailed bv nine strokes. His 41 included an eagle-3 on the 526-yard first hole, where he sank a 9-foot putt to draw even for the tournament with Kernaghan, who two-putted for a birdie. Bengoechea saw his title chances vanish in a 45-minute span of uncharacteristic golf. He double-bogeyed the par-4 third hole from 90 yards out, shanking a wedge shot and then chunking his chip shot into a sand trap.

After three-putting for par on No. 4, he shanked another iron into a water hazard and double-bogeyed the par-3 fifth. It really never got any better, although he did manage to sink a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to salvage a 36 on the back side. "I've never played that bad before in the final round of a tournament," said Bengoechea.

"I don't know what the problem was. I shanked three shots, chilly-dipped another and played like I didn't know what I was doing out there." It likely will be the final State Am appearance by the long-hitting Bengoechea, who plans to turn pro this fall and play on the Australian tour. Kernaghan, a junior at Arizona State, said he AP Photo Great Falls' Todd Kernaghan reacts after winning the Montana Men's State Amateur Championship Saturday in "I didn't know it could feel any better than it did two years ago," he said, allowing himself the luxury of savoring a feeling that only a few Montana golfers have ever experienced. Baar slams Brewers; Dodgers up lead Bv MIKE TOWNE Sis? C. singles and two RBI in four at-bats.

He drove home Barker with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, and plated Barker again with an infield single in the Dodgers' four-run sixth inning. Barker, the shortstop, and Mike Wismer, the right fielder, both finished with two hits. Helena also hit the ball well Saturday, collecting 14 hits the same as Great Falls off four pitchers. See DODGERS, 2G average entering the game was also third best. O'Donnell, ironically, was the only Dodger starter not to collect at least one hit off Helena pitching.

He walked twice, however, and scored a run. "Everybody contributes on this team. We have hitters up and down the lineup," Baar said. "It's somebody different every night, and that's the key to winning." Deutsch was also an offensive hero for Great Falls, collecting four Brewers. Baar also had a double in the victory, the Dodgers' sixth in a row and their 22nd in their last 26 games.

Great Falls is 23-6 on the season, 6'4 games ahead of Helena in the Northern Division of the Pioneer League. Games two and three of the series are set for Sunday and Monday nights. "It was a high fast ball. I knew it was out," said Baar of the first-inning grand slam. "I'd been over-1 swinging a little bit the last couple weeks, but tonight I slowed it down and made contact." Scoring ahead of Baar on the grand slam were Tim Barker, Steve O'Donnell and John Deutsch.

O'Donnell had walked to reach the base paths, while Barker and Deutsch both singled off Helena starter Bill Brakely. The homer, Baar's fourth as a professional, tied O'Donnell for the team lead. The tour runs batted in boosted his season total to 21, third-best on the club. His .346 batting Tribune Sports Writer HELENA Bryan Baar has hit several grand slam home runs in his baseball career, but perhaps none any bigger than the one the promising catcher belted Saturday night at Kindrick Legion Field. Baar's booming shot over the left-field fence staked Great Falls to a 4-0 first-inning lead, and it proved to be the difference as the red-hot Dodgers went on to post a 10-6 victory over the Helena Baar Watson in position to win sixth British Open By BOB GREEN British Open leaders Wayne Grady r.

68-67-69204 Tom Watson 69-68-68205 Payne Stewart 72-65-69206 Mark Calcavecchla 71-68-68207 Fred Couples 68-71-68207 David Feherty 71-67-69207 Paul Azlnger 68-73-67208 Jodie Mudd 73-67-68208 Mark McCumber 71-68-70209 Jose-Maria Olazabal 68-72-69209 Steve Pate 69-70-70209 Mark James 69-70-71210 Ian Baker-Finch 72-69-70211 Joe Ozakl 71-71-69211 Craig Stadler 73-69-69211 Lanny Wadkins 72-70-69211 Jeff Hawkes 75-67-69211 Larry Mlze 71-74-66211 Roger Chapman 76-68-67211 Tom Kite 70-74-67-211 Greg Norman 69-70-72211 Scott Simpson 211 AP Golf Writer TROON, Scotland Tom Watson's opponent is Australian journeyman Wayne Grady, but his target is the immortal Harry Vardon. something I want; something I want very much," Watson said Saturday after he'd come one step and one stroke closer to a piece of golfing history: a sixth British Open Golf Championship to tie the record set by Vardon in 1914. It is a formidable challenge for Watson, who once ruled as the dominant player in the game, then went into a puzzling five-year slide that has produced only one victory. He goes into Sunday's final round of the 118th British Open one shot back of the stubborn Grady and with a host of younger American challengers in hot pursuit. And those young Americans know that the 39-year-old Watson is the man to beat, the man they're chasing.

"If I had to pick anybody, other than myself, to win it, I'd pick Tom said Payne Stewart, himself only two shots back. He must fend off those challenges. He must overtake Grady. And he must retain a golf game so long dormant that suddenly has regained life and zest on the Scottish links Watson loves so degree temperature. Couples and Mark Calcavecchia, along with David Feherty of Northern Ireland, were next at 207.

Couples, the long-hitting man called "Boom Boom" by his fellow pros, and Calcavecchia each shot 68. Feherty had a 69. Jodie Mudd, with a 68, and Paul Azinger, 67, followed at 208. Mark McCumber and Steve Pate, each with a 70, and Spain's Jose Maria-Olazabal, 69, were another shot back at 209, seven under par and five behind the leader. All responded to conditions more commonly found on the American PGA Tour than on the Scottish links and produced the exceptionally low scores more frequently seen in the United States than in the British Open.

Of the 80 men who survived the two-round cut, 46 now are under par for the tournament. "We're seeing a very kind, benign Troon this week," said Watson, who scored the fourth of his five British Open titles here in 1982. "Maybe that helped me." But it failed to provide enough help for such international stars as U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange, defending title-holder Seve Ballesteros of Spain or Masters champion Nick Faldo of England. Strange and Ballesteros shot themselves out of it with scores of 74-218 and 76-221, respectively.

Faldo was 10 shots behind at 214 after a 70. Six men Mudd, Couples, Calcavecchia and Stewart among them shared the lead at one point or another before it settled down into a struggle between Watson and Grady over the closing holes. Watson, two shots behind when the day's play started, birdied the first hole from 15 feet and caught Grady with another 15-footer on the fourth hole. Grady, who saved par with a 10-footer on the ninth, then started his run with a chip-in from 20 feet on the 10th hole. That put him in front alone, but Watson responded with a two-putt birdie -four on the 11th.

They were tied again, this time at 10 under par. Grady, playing immediately behind Watson, followed him to the 11th green, pitched to three feet and led again, now at 11 under par. Two holes later, on the 13th, Watson tied him again, this time with an eight-foot birdie putt. See BRITISH OPEN, 2G It well. "I just love, absolutely love, playing links courses," the 39-year-old Watson said after his bogey-free 68 on Royal Troon.

And he showed it. His head was up, topped by the tweed cap he usually sports in Scotland. His gait was the jaunty stride that was his trademark in 37 previous worldwide victories. The competitive, almost combative, smile was in place as he did what he had to do in a scramble down the last few holes. And he said he's ready for the challenge.

"I can't wait to put it to the test again," he said. "I'm playing well. I don't know why the hell it's happening, but it's happening," Watson said. His 205 total, 11 shots under par and one behind the leader, put him in the best position he's held in this ancient event since 1984, when he was overtaken in the final round on the Old Course at St. Andrews by Seve Ballesteros.

That marked the first of five British Open victories by non-Americans and ushered in a period in which European players moved to the fore in the world game. But it was Americans who did the moving on this hot, still day along the Firth of Clyde. It was a massive move to the top. Of the first 10 players behind Grady, eight are Americans. "Nobody else has a chance at it, not even if they shoot 66," said Fred Couples, one of those very much in the hunt for the old claret jug that goes to the winner of the most ancient of all the world's myriad golf titles.

Grady, of course, is the chief opponent, and the man Watson will partner over the final 18 holes. Grady, tied by Watson on three separate occasions during the third round, set up the go-ahead birdie with a brilliant chip shot to within tap-in distance on the 16th, and preserved his round of 69 with a six-foot par putt on the final hole. Grady, 31, winner of four titles in a 12-year globe-trotting career, completed three trips over Troon's sun-baked fairways of Royal Troon in 204, 12 shots under par. Stewart, a one-time runner-up in this event, was one stroke behind Watson, and two off the lead, at 206 after a 69 in uncommonly warm 77 AP Photo Tom Watson, five-time winner of the British Open, chips out of the rough in Troon, Scotland. Watson is one stroke off the lead.

Baseball's top performers Based on 279 at Batt. NATIONAL LEAGUE AMERICAN LEAGUE AB 6 AB TGwvnnSD 7 376 57 129 LarkmCin i2 315 45 107 94 374 86 306 94 351 45 127 44 102 54 115 55 110 Pet. .340 .333 .328 .323 .322 .319 .311 .317 Puckett Mln Lanstord Oak Franco Tex Boggs Bsn Sierra Ten San NY Boines Chi 341 PCI. .343 .340 .334 .332 .301 .300 94 376 61 121 WCIark SF 97 356 65 119 Grace CM 79 210 36 93 Guerrero StL 93 325 35 99 Raines Mon 2 212 49 15 HJohnson NY 330 66 99 Mitchell SF 92 321 63 91 93 382 52 122 90 311 51 99 80 217 21 91 Stelnbach Oak Red-hot Montreal Expos hold NL East lead, put hurt on Reds Page 3G Becker burns U.S. Davis finals hopes doubtful Page 5G 1 Home Runs McGrlff, Toronto, 25; Deer, Milwaukee, 23; BJockson, Kansas Citv, 22; Tettleton.

Baltimore, 21; Wtiitoker. Detroit, 20. Runs Batted In Franco, Texos, 69; Carter, Cleveland, 67; Sierra. Texas, 67; BJockson, Kansas Citv, 64; McGrlH, Toronto, 64; Greenwell, Boston, 62; Leonard, Seattle. 62; McGwire.

Oakland. 62. Pitching (8 Decisions) Montgomery. Kansas Citv, 7-1, Swindell, Cleveland, 13-2. Gordon, Kansas Citv, II 2, Blvleven, California, 10-2.

Switt, Seattle, 6-2. Williamson Baltimore, 6-2, Stewart, Oakland. 14-5. Bollord, Baltimore. 11-4.

.733. Home Runs Mitchell, San Francisco. 32: HJohnson. New York. 25; Strawberry, New York, 22; GDovIs, Houston, 21; EDovis.

Cincinnati, 18; Galarrooa, Montreal, 14; LSmith. Atlanta, 14; ONeill, Cincinnati, 14; VHaves, Philadelphia. 14; WCIark. Son Francisco, 14. Rons Batted In Mitchell, Son Francisco.

IS; WCIark, San Francisco, 72; Guerrero, StLouis, 62; HJohnson. New York, 62; ONeill. Cincinnati. 62. Pitchint (I Decisions) DeMartinei, Montreal, 10-1, 909; Darwin.

Houston, 9-2, BSmith. Montreal, 9-3, Reuschel, Son Francisco. 12-4. .750, Scott, Houston, 15-5, Fernondei. New York.

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