Idaho pro leads by 3 at Oregon Open Invitational

Published 11:02 pm Tuesday, June 13, 2017

REDMOND — Russell Grove, a professional from Idaho, rode a string of four consecutive birdies to a 5-under-par 67 and a three-stroke lead after Tuesday’s first round of the Oregon Open Invitational at Juniper Golf Course.

Grove, the men’s golf coach at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, finished with six birdies and just one bogey despite breezy conditions that produced winds reportedly as high as 20 mph. Entering Wednesday’s second round of the 54-hole individual tournament, Grove’s closest challengers are Derek Berg, a professional from Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, and Nate Blauer, an amateur from Rock Creek CC in Portland, both at 2-under 70.

Among Central Oregon golfers in the starting field of 96 professionals and 96 amateurs, the low score of the first round was posted by Eagle Crest pro Jared Lambert, whose 72 put him in a five-way tie for seventh place.

Tee times Wednesday start at 7:30 a.m. After Wednesday’s round, the field will be cut to the top 70 players and ties for the final round Thursday.

Lambert is part of the foursome leading midway through the 36-hole pro-am four-ball competition. He and teammates Jeff Ward of Bend Golf and Country Club, Keaton Hayenga of Golf Pad Inc. (Kirkland, Washington), and Ryan Feyrer of Tacoma (Washington) Golf and Country Club have a total net score of 132 for a one-stroke lead. Hayenga and Feyrer lead through the first round of the best 2 of 4 net team competition with a total net of 65.

— Bulletin staff report