Moore up by 6 on Johnston at State Am golf

GREAT FALLS — Joey Moore of Billings had the best round of the day, again, to give him a six-shot lead after 36 holes at the 102nd Montana Men’s State Amateur golf tournament at Meadow Lark Country Club.

Moore followed a 6-under 66 on Thursday with an 8-under 64 on Friday for a 130 total.

Defending champion Ryggs Johnston of Libby, 67-69—136, is sitting second.

Liam Clancy of Laurel and Colton Hudson of Pryor Creek are tied for third with 143 each.

Moore, who will be sophomore at San Diego State, put together a second consecutive bogey-free round. He began the day with birdies on holes two, three, five and eagled the ninth hole for an opening side of 31. On the back nine, Moore birdied the 11th, 13th and 14th to finish eight-under-par for the day and 14-under-par for the championship.

Johnston, who graduated this spring from Libby High School and is headed to Arizona State to play golf, posted a 69 (-3). Johnston made eight birdies during the round, opening with 32 on the front. Double bogeys on holes 10 and 18 resulted in a closing nine of 37 for his 69.

The other State Amateur champion in the field is Bill Dunn of Missoula, who won in 2009. He shot a 76 on Friday.

Meadow Lark Country Club is celebrating its centennial anniversary. The last time the championship was in Great Falls (2015) Tom Swanson of Missoula was the champion.

The tournament ends today.

Meadow Lark was playing at 6,589 yards Friday. The field consists of 135 players from around the state. The event is open to amateur players with handicap indexes of 12 and below.

Nick Dietzen of the Montana State Golf Association (Communications and Marketing) contributed to this story.