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Golf: Vermeer, Mead open up leads at Pro-Am
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FarkRAPID CITY — Ryan Vermeer carded an 8-under-par 63 to open up a two-shot lead after the first round of the Dakotas Tour Arrowhead Country Club Pro-Am on Thursday.
“You know, the golf course is in great shape, so if you hit the ball in the right places, you can make some putts out there,” said Vermeer.
“Really, I just hit it good, I kept it out of trouble, and it’s never easy to shoot 8-under par but I hit it inside of 5 feet a lot of times.”
In the amateur portion of the event, Rapid City’s Geoff Mead shot a 3-under 68 and leads by one.
Vermeer birdied his first two holes — Nos. 10 and 11 — to get off to a fast start.
“I guess as much as anything, I got off to a good start and just kept riding the wave,” he added.
Vermeer went on to shoot a 4-under 31 on the back nine and followed that up with a 4-under 32 on the front. For the day, he made two eagles, five birdies and a single bogey (on the 212-yard, par-3 17th).
Vermeer, who is playing in his fourth Arrowhead Pro-Am, said both the eagle putts he made were inside 6 feet.
“Before yesterday and today, 66 maybe was the best I’ve shot (at Arrowhead),” Vermeer noted. “But, you know, I’ve always known it was out there and I’ve been fortunate enough to shoot two good ones the last two days and hopefully I can keep that going.”
Tim Ailes was the leader after the morning session. The 35-year-old journeyman carded a 6-under 65 and currently sits in second place.
“I hit it all over the place and made a lot of putts,” said Ailes. “I made a lot of saves for par — a hot putter saved me a lot today.”
Ailes, the first-round leader in 2006, also began his round on the back nine and opened with a 31. He made seven birds and a bogey in the round.
Brian Coe, John Synder, Scott Hart and Tim Kunick are three back after 66s, while Barry O’Neill, Joe Ryon, Josh Persons and Ryan Conner are another shot back at 67.
Thirty-nine players shot par or better Thursday.
Rodney Hamblin, winner of the Sponsor Day Scramble on Wednesday, is in a pack of six golfers at 68. Rapid City’s Ryan Messick, the assistant pro at Arrowhead, carded a 69 and is in a seven-way tie for 17th.
Another nine golfers opened with 70s, including Rapid City’s Wil Collins. Collins, the defending champion, is looking to become the tournament’s first three-time winner. He also won in 2004 after a runner-up finish in 2003.
Seven golfers shot even-par 71.
Former champs Christopher Galeski (2006) and Jeff Klein (1993 and 2002) are among eight golfers at 72, while Dakotas Tour money leader Brady Schnell and points leader Yong Joo are in an eight-way tie for 48th at 73.
Brian Kortan, the 2003 winner, shot 75.
Mead, who won the South Dakota Golf Association Men’s Amateur Championship at Arrowhead on July 25-27, set the bar high early. Playing in the morning session, Mead carded a 3-under 32 on the back nine en route to the round of 69. He had an eagle, two birdies and a bogey (on the tricky 192-yard, par-3 third).
Rapid City’s James Dyk is one shot back at 69. Dyk was 2-over after seven holes before birdying Nos. 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 to get it to 3-under. A bogey on the 17th dropped him back to 2-under.
Rapid City’s Jon Lesselyoung and Spearfish’s Wally Byrne are four back at 1-over 72. Defending champion Josh Cluff, Doug Murphy and Stanton Anker, all of Rapid City, opened with 73s.
Rapid City’s Phil Henzlik and Wyoming’s Henry Tanner are at 74, while Rapid Citians Hugh Welsh and Keith Gesinger are tied for 10th at 76.
Rapid City’s Jack Delaney leads the net division after a 65 (78 gross).
Play continues this morning with the second round.
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