Former champs come from behind to win 4th of July tourney

WHITEFISH — They saved the best for last.

Both the men’s and women’s champions at the 78th annual Earl Hunt Memorial Fourth of July golf tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club made big moves late in their rounds to seal their titles, each trailing entering the back nine of the final round.

Kramer Hickok of Westlake, Texas, winner of the event last year, rolled in a birdie putt from 25 feet out on the ninth hole to put some life into his round. The senior at the University of Texas had hit par on each of his first eight holes, and got some juice for the closing stretch with the long putt.

“I had missed a few short ones earlier in the round,” Hickok said. “To finally see one go in helped my momentum. It helped me get things going.”

He made five birdies in a row on the back nine, vaulting himself to the lead, where he won by three strokes, finishing with a 69 to close the tournament at 9-under-par 206. He entered the round trailing Kalispell’s Ryan Porch by two strokes. A 65 on Friday, the low round of the tournament, pushed him into contention after an even-par first round.

“I felt I had to get to 9- or 10-under to win,” Hickok said. “This tournament is getting better and better. There’s so many good players. You never know how well you have to play. You have to bring your ‘A’ game to win. That’s what I was able to do this week.”

The course played long and fast on the final day, which aided the golfers who were able to tuck their shots close to the pin.

“It was definitely two- to three shots tougher than the first two rounds,” Hickok said. “The pins were good. They really tried to make it a test.”

Porch, who entered the day in the lead, shot a 77 on the final day to finish in third place. He had opened the tournament with back-to-back 4-under-par rounds, before losing his touch in the final round.

“I wasn’t hitting it very well off the tee and into the greens,” Porch said.

“I wasn’t giving myself any birdie opportunities. I didn’t have a single birdie today.

“I felt confident over the shots, I wasn’t executing like I needed to. I was 20-plus feet (away from the pin) almost every time. When you’re not giving yourself any looks, you’re just grinding for pars. It makes it tough.”

Porch, a sophomore at the University of Idaho, finished at 3-under 212 for the tournament. Scott Anderson of Columbus, Ohio finished second at 6-under 209 after a low round of 67 on Saturday.

“It’s disappointing, but I’m happy with where I finished,” Porch said. “It’s the best I’ve done, that’s good. It’s a bummer to shoot that high in the last round.”

Morgan Lee of Great Falls won the women’s tournament for the second time in three years, overcoming a massive deficit after nine holes. Entering the turn, Lee trailed the leaders by six strokes but was able to chip away at the lead on the back nine.

“I started off kind of shaky,” Lee said.

“I had a bogey and I was just trying to get into a groove ... I just knew I needed to play my game and hit great shots.”

Lee closed the deficit entering the 18th, in a tie for the lead with Dorsey Addicks of Gallatin Gateway, who led the tournament wire-to-wire entering the final hole.

Lee was able to shoot a birdie on the final hole, matching Addicks’ par to win her second tournament title with an even par 72 on the last day. Lee, who also won in 2012, was 7-over 223 for the weekend. Addicks, who entered at even par through two days, shot an 80 on the last day to finish 8-over 224. Defending champion Lindsay Reeve of Missoula finished third at 11-over 227.

“I was making good swings at the ball and I was really happy with my speed on the greens,” Lee said. “I didn’t three putt. Putts were a big thing. I’m just kind of speechless right now.”

Whitefish’s Coral Schulz was the top local finisher for the women, finishing fifth with a 231.

78th Earl Hunt Memorial

Fourth of July Tournament

Saturday

At Whitefish Lake Golf Club

Whitefish

North Course (Men): Par 72; South Course (Women): Par 72

Men

Final Round

K. Hickok, Westlake, Texas    72-65-69—206

S. Anderson, Clmbs, Ohio    71-71-67—209

Ryan Porch, Kalispell    68-67-77—212

D. Refioglu, Fstr City, Calif.    73-67-73—213

M. Swingle, Bllvue, Wash.    73-71-73—217

Craig Hurlbert, Hamilton    73-70-75—218

Kyle Mossfeldt, Whitefish    75-68-75—218

Cory Mehl, Seattle    74-70-74—218

Reed Platke, Whitefish    74-70-74—218

Grahm Schmaltz, Kalispell    74-72-73—219

Byron Olson, Calgary    72-74-74—220

A. Medley, Scottsdale, Ariz.    74-70-76—220

Mark Mance, Whitefish    73-74-74—221

Robb Bergeson, Billings    73-73-75—221

Logan Iverson, Kalispell    75-72-74—221

Brad Grattan, Whitefish    76-70-76—222

B. Wilkrsn, Wnstn-Slm, NC    73-72-77—222

Ross Bartell, Great Falls    72-73-78—223

J. Moscrip, Snqlmie, Wash.    74-73-76—223

Conor Rooney, Whitefish    72-77-75—224

Joel Mallams, Whitefish    70-76-78—224

Jesse Porch, Florence    75-76-74—225

Dan Conkling, Whitefish    72-74-81—227

Justin Miller, Phoenix    73-79-75—227

S. Williams, Great Falls    73-78-77—228

Marty Mehl, Seattle    77-77-74—228

Women

Final round

Morgan Lee, Great Falls    76-75-72—223

D. Addicks, Glltin Gateway    73-71-80—224

Lindsay Reeve, Missoula    76-75-76—227

C. McNaughton, Lethbridge    79-77-73—229

Coral Schulz, Whitefish    78-78-75—231

H. Folkvord, Three Forks    75-78-78—231

Meg Nicholson, Calgary    76-79-80—235

Jackie Mee, Libby    76-80-79—235

Darah Newell, Helena    80-77-78—235

A. Hakula, Austin, Texas    82-74-81—237

Margaux Ullett, Calgary    81-80-78—239

Maggie Crippen, Missoula    79-75-86—240

Jolene Wood, Calgary    80-81-84—245

C. Mossfeldt, Whitefish    79-86-83—248