Sports

Greg Sanders takes 9-stroke lead into final round of Alaska State Amateur

Seven-time champion Greg Sanders shot his worst score of the week Saturday but nonetheless extended his lead at the Alaska State Amateur championship.

Sanders fired a 4-over-par 76 to stretch his lead to nine strokes going into the tournament’s final round at the Moose Run Creek Course.

A day after carding six birdied to shoot a tournament-best 67, Sanders made five bogeys and one birdie on Saturday. Combined with a first-round 74 on Thursday, he’s 1-over par at 217 through 54 holes.

Chasing him are three men separated by three strokes -- first-day leader Adam Baxter at 226, reigning state senior champion Benjie Sumulong at 228 and defending State Am champion Russell Marion at 229. Baxter and Marion both shot 78 Saturday, and Sumulong had an 80.

Saturday’s best round came from Aaron Roth, who shot a 1-over-par 73 to move from a share of ninth place to a share of fifth place with a total score of 231.

Sanders is gunning for his 13th state title -- his seventh State Am championship came in 2018, and last month he won his fifth Alaska match-play championship.

More than 100 golfers are playing in the tournament.

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