Salter, Pridey lead Amateur

Sixteen players within five shots of lead going into final round

By Sean Welsh, Journal correspondent | Sunday, July 27, 2008

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RAPID CITY — Rapid City’s Jeff Salter and defending champion Matt Pridey, of Sioux Falls, are tied atop the leaderboard heading into today’s final round of the South Dakota Golf Association Men’s Amateur Championship at the par-71 Arrowhead Country Club.

Sixteen players are within five shots of the lead.

Salter (even-par 71) and Pridey (74) are both at 1-under 141 for the tournament.

“It’s been a tough two days, but to have a shot at it is kind of fun,” said Salter. “My short game and putting have been saving me the past two days. I’ve been struggling hitting it. I’m kind of hitting it in places I’ve never been.

“I’ve got my putter rolling, so if I can just start hitting it a little better, it could be really fun tomorrow.”

Pridey, the first-round leader after a 67, played his final three holes in 4-over to fall into the tie.

“A couple bad swings got me in bad positions,” said Pridey. “I went out of bounds on No. 16 and hit one in the water there on No. 18. I just lost control of the driver there for a couple swings.

Rapid City’s Geoff Mead had the low round of the day — 68 — which moved him within one shot and into a tie for third with Rapid City’s Tyler Rachetto and Sioux Falls’ Ryan Jansa.

“Yeah, I hit the ball really well today,” said Mead. “I just gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities.”

Rachetto fired his second consecutive 71. Jansa, a record six-time Amateur champion, faltered with a 74.

Lead’s Lance Collins (71) and Sioux Falls’ Brian Wynia (70) are at 143 for the tournament. They are followed by Rapid City’s Shane Tipton (74) and Tim Kalil (75), and Sioux Falls’ Danny Amundson (73) at 144.

Two-time defending Match Play Championship winner Tom Carlson (70) of Sioux Falls and Brookings’ Scott O’Brien (75) are another shot back at 145, while Rapid City’s Ron Farris (75), Lead’s Tyler Evenson (75), Bon Homme’s Ryan Tjeerdsma (74), Flandreau’s Matthew Johnson (72), Mitchell’s Brandon Sigmund (74) and Sioux Falls Chad Dubisar (73) are at 146.

“Anybody up there could shoot a low number — just go out and play your game, and see what happens when you’re done,” Salter added.