WHITEFISH — Jim Bob Coleman of Billings overcame a two-shot deficit in the final round of the 32nd Montana State Mid-Amateur Championship Saturday to win by one shot over Robb Bergeson, also of Billings.
Coleman, a fixture among amateur golf leaderboards, broke through for his first state title as an amateur. He finished with a one-under-par round of 70, which tied for the low round of the day, and tallied a 3-under 210 for the three-day event at Whitefish Lake Golf Club's South Course.
Coleman pulled even with Bergeson, who led after the first and second rounds of play, on the 15th hole as he birdied the 195-yard par three, with Bergeson making par.
Both players made par on the 16th and Bergeson bogeyed the 17th, while Coleman parred. Both players parred the 18th, as Coleman wrapped up the victory with a three-foot putt.
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Bergeson closed with 73 after a 69-69 start to finish second with a 2-under 211 total.
Whitefish's Mark Mance, the 2016 Mid-Am champion, finished third at 214 with a final round of even-par 71. Mance won the Joe Tomes Trophy as the low player age 50 and over.
Bennett MacIntyre of Helena was the only other player besides Coleman who broke par on the final round as he closed with 70 and 215 overall for fourth place.
Logan Lindholm of Kalispell was fifth at 217, Jason Winkler, also of Kalispell, was sixth at 218.
Jerry Pearsall of Billings and Chris Goldan of Bozeman tied for seventh at 219. Shawn Tucker of Whitefish finished ninth on his home course at 220. Ken Bush rounded out the top 10 at 221.
Coleman and Bergeson not only finished one, two respectively, but also claimed the Gene Cook Cup for the low two finishers from the same club. Both players play at Yellowstone Country Club in Billings.
Play for all three days was on Whitefish Lake Golf Club's South Course, which played at 6,294 yards.
The tournament was open to players age 25 and above with a handicap index maximum of 15. There were 113 participants.