Moore returns to defend 4th of July Tourney title

The Daily Inter Lake

He’s back — defending champion Joey Moore of Billings — but he’s not — Ryggs Johnston of Libby.

Johnston is competing in another event.

Hailey Hoagland of Butte, the defending women’s champion, is also absent this weekend for the 82nd annual 4th of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Course.

But don’t panic over that. It still promises to be an action-packed, three-day, stroke-play thriller starting this morning at 7:30. The men will play the North Course today and Saturday and the South Course on Friday.

The women tackle the South Course today and Saturday and move to the North Course on Friday.

The tournament features another talented field with several former champions and runner-ups for men and women on the entry list. There are 230 participants total from the Pacific Northwest and Canada.. The women’s field has 40 entrants.

In a dramatic men’s tournament a year ago, Moore rallied to force a playoff with Johnston and captured the title on the first playoff hole. They finished nine shots ahead of the field.

Johnston flirted with the course record on the second day of play, shooting a 6-under 66 on the North Course for a three-shot advantage on Moore. Johnston set the North Course record in 2015 with a 7-under 65.

Moore was playing in this event for the first time last year. It was the second time for Hoagland.

Moore and Logan Lindholm of Kalispell were last year’s first-day leaders, both shooting 5-under-66s on the South Course. Johnston was next with a 67.

Lindholm finished in a tie for seventh.

Contenders on the men’s side will include Andrew Medley of Scottsdale, Arizona, a 2012 and 2016 4th of July champ; Craig Hurlbert of Rollins, a 2001 winner; Mark Mance of Whitefish, a runner-up in 2016; Robb Bergeson of Billings, a 2007 champ who also has multiple second-place finishes; John Moscrip of Seattle, a 1997 winner; Shawn Tucker of Whitefish, a runner-up in 2007 and 2010; and Bob Hasquet of Missoula.

For the women, Coral Schulz of Whitefish, a two-time Class A state champ; Teigan Avery of Kalispell, Cathie Tronson (Williamson) of Great Falls, a three time champion (2001, 2002, 2003); Jasi Acharya of Carver, Minnesota; Stephanie Hurlbert of Rollins; and Kylie Esh of Missoula are the other top contenders for women.

Hoagland finished eight shots ahead of the field last year. Esh was third and 10 shots off the pace.

The tournament will feature a women’s derby today and a men’s derby on Friday.

Spectators are welcome.