Niesen fires another 69, leads State Seniors by 7
Aug. 4—Jeff Niesen fired his second straight 69 Wednesday, and padded his lead in the 2022 State Seniors Golf Championships to seven strokes after 36 holes.
Niesen, out of Bigfork's Eagle Bend Golf Club, had four birdies (Nos. 1, 4, 13 and 17) and bogey for the second straight day. His two-day total of 138 gives him a decent cushion over Brad Grattan of Whitefish Lake Golf Club, fired Wednesday's best round on his home course: A 68 that included an Eagle on No. 9.
Grattan also had three birdies — on 2, 13 and 18 — and a bogey. He moved from a tie for seventh into second, while Gene Walsh, also playing his home course, shot 72 Wednesday and sits third at 3-over 147.
Defending champion Bill Dunn of the Missoula Councty Club shot a 73 and sits tied with Dave Stengel of The Ranch Club for f49.
All but one of the top 20 golfers (and ties) played Whitefish Lake Wednesday, including Russ DeVore, who shot a 72 and moved into a tie for 15th. The same group will play the final round at Buffalo Hill Golf Club today.
Mike Lincoln of Buffalo Hill stayed in the top 20 with an 80, shot at Meadow Lake.
Grattan leads the Freshman Division (age 55-62) through two rounds; Niesen leads the Sophmore Division (63-69),
Walsh has the best round among the Freshman Division, for ages 55-62; Niesen plays in the Sophomore Division, or ages 63-69. Ron Janney's 159 leads the Junior Division (70-77) and Jim Schaible of Buffalo Hill shot a 79 Wednesday and leads the Senior Division (78-plus) at 164.
Montana State Seniors Championship
Aug. 2-4, Kalispell
Wednesday
Jeff Niesen, Eagle Bend GC 69-69—138
Brad Grattan, Whitefish Lake GC 77-68—145
Gene Walsh, Whitefish Lake GC 75-72—147
Dave Stengel, The Ranch Club 75-74—149
Bill Dunn, Missoula CC 76-73—149
Bill Leach, Livingston GC 76-74—150
Ron Ramsbacher, Missoula CC 79-74—153
Carl Funk, Polson Bay GC 77-76—153
Rod Brady, Whitefish Lake GC 79-75—154
Joe Cielak, Cabinet View GC 78-76—154
Brady Selle, Cabinet View GC 79-75—154
Tony Kindle, Marian Hills GC 77-78—155
Martin Reilly, Fairmont GC 79-76—155
Lou Bahin, Canyon River GC 79-77—156
Hunter Lloyd, Bridger Creek GC 76-81—157
Russ DeVore, Whitefish Lake GC 85-72—157
Marshall Bettendorf, Madison Meadows 78-80—158
Mike Lincoln, Buffalo Hill GC 79-80—159
Will Eide, Valley View 79-80—159
David Meeks, Eagle Bend GC 80-78—158
Lee Levine, Riverside GC 80-79—159
Todd Harper, Meadow Lake CC 82-77—159
Ron Janney, Wilderness Club 80-79—159
Complete results and tee times can be found at msgagolf.org
