BOZEMAN — First round action at the 69th Montana State Senior Tournament concluded on Tuesday, with the leaderboard starting to take shape.
It was a beautiful day in Bozeman and a lot of excitement at our three host courses: Valley View Golf Club, Cottonwood Hills Golf Club, and the Bridger Creek Golf Course.
Billings’ Jerry Pearsall is in the lead after round one after posting a -3 (68). Pearsall, who won the State Senior Tournament in 2019 and recently won the Montana State Senior Amateur Championship, had five birdies (holes 9, 10, 11, 13, 18) on the day and 11 pars made.
In second place was Bozeman’s Bill Leach at -2 (69). Leach had four birdies (holes 1, 3, 9, 17) and 12 pars. Playing on his hometown courses, Leach will likely contend for the title.
The same could be said for Todd Sisson and Jon Yousko, also both from Bozeman. They sit tied for third place at -1 (70). Sisson had four birdies (holes 1, 7, 13, 18), while Yousko collected three (holes 9, 11, 14). With them in third is Three Forks’ Jerry Faechner, who didn’t collect a birdie on the round but did have an eagle on hole 13.
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Tied for sixth place at +1 are Polson’s Carl Funk, Missoula’s Ron Ramsbacher and Bozeman’s William Johnson and Rick Valore.
Rounding out the top 10 was a four-way tie at +2 between Libby’s Joe Cielak, Bozeman’s Lee Levine, and Whitefish’s Gene Walsh and Brad Grattan.
Helena’s Jack Thompson is the current Senior Division leader at +5. He had a birdie on hole nine.
In the Junior Division, Helena’s Doug Olson is in the lead after the first round at +3. Jerry Faechner is the Sophomore Division leader at -1, and Jerry Pearsall leads the Freshman Division along with possessing the overall lead.
Each course will have a shotgun start tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. Media and spectators are welcome to attend the event. Check in at the pro shop for credentials.
Note: An updated leaderboard can be found online at www.msgagolf.org as well as through the Golf Genius App via GGID: 24MSGASR
