Four-time men's champion Greg Sanders and Rose Pelletier, seeking her first women's title, blew out to big leads Thursday on the opening day of the Alaska State Amateur at Settlers Bay Golf Course near Wasilla.
Sanders, of Anchorage, who last won in 2012, carded a 4-under 67 to storm to a six-shot lead over Kevin Daniels, Rick Boyles and Scott Woodland – they all shots 73 – in the four-day tournament that wraps Sunday.
Michael Sullivan sits seven shots back in the men's championship flight after shooting a 74. Defending champion Adam Baxter of Fairbanks opened with a 75 and 2011 champion David Hamilton carded a 78.
Pelletier, of Palmer, fired a 2-over 74 to take command of the women's championship flight, which she leads by 13 strokes over Cathy Shuttleworth (87) and 14 strokes over Connie Johnson (88).
In the men's first flight, Jeremy Peters' 80 earned him a three-shot lead over Bill Preston and Joe Roberts. In the women's first flight, Halcyon Swisher's 88 furnished her a two-shot lead over Cathy Garrick.
Organizers with the Alaska Golf Association reported dry conditions for most of the first round.
Alaska State Amateur Golf Tournament
At Settlers Bay Golf Course
Par 71 for men, par 72 for women
Men's championship flight -- 1) Greg Sanders 67; 2) tie, Kevin Daniels, Rick Boyles and Scott Woodland 73; 5) Michael Sullivan 74; 6) tie, Adam Baxter and Paul Blanche 75; 8) tie, Aaron Roth, Brad Pitzer and Travis Heyroth 76; 11) tie, Christopher Morin, Kory Smith and Kwan Lee 77; 14) David Hamilton 78; 15) tie, Chad Isaacs and David Jennings 79; 17) tie, Marcus Dolejsi and Richard Teders 80; 19) tie, Joshua Ashline and Nick Karnos 81; 21) tie, Mike Farrell and Will Woodland 83; 23) tie, Peter Hakes and Rene Alvarez 84; 25) tie, Larry Furstenburg and Mark McMahan 85; 27) tie, Johnathan Schuiteman and Kyle Curtis 86; 29) Thomas Wilson 89; 30) Paul Lindhag 93.
Men's first flight – 1) Jeremy Peters 80; 2) tie, Bill Preston and Joe Roberts 83; 4) tie, Charles Rehder and Joseph Orley 84; 6) tie, Chad Griffith, Jack Newell, James Nunley and Michael Houghton 85; 10) tie, Casey Bieber, Eric Bender and Robert Hanson 87; 13) Grant Dornan 88; 14) James Grace 89; 15) Mark Toskey 90; 16) tie, Gary Harris and John Gose 91; 18) tie, Ed Sanderson, Peter Blanchett, Tim Wesenberg and Trey Miller 92; 22) tie, Jeffrey Greenwood and Kevin Sykes 93; 24) Jim Reeves 94; 25) Derrick Sanderson 95; 26) Tom Adams 100; 27) Paul Dube 131.
Men's second flight – 1) Juan Botero 84; 2) tie, Jay Wisthoff, Joel Jones and Peter Allen 88; 5) Ronald Perry 89; 6) Gary Petros 91; 7) tie, Gene Carlson and Jamie Roberts 92; 9) tie, Gordon Franke and Wes Masters 93; 11) Greg Magee 94; 12) tie, Jeff Pifer and Stan Petito 96; 14) tie, Craig Savage, Dave Kester and Sev Swanson 97; 17) tie, Ernest Daniels and Mark Mayo 98; 19) tie, Jack Newell Sr. and Terry Simon 104; 21) tie, Gary George and Torgeir Robertson 105; 23) David Faulk 107; 24) Greg Wheeler 109; 25) John Gibson 110; 26) Kurtis Gibson 116; 27) Scott Siebert 117.
Women's championship flight – 1) Rose Pelletier 74; 2) Cathy Shuttleworth 87; 3) Connie Johnson 88; 4) Pamela Chesla 93; 5) Teresa Fisher 94.
Women's first flight – 1) Halcyon Swisher 88; 2) Cathy Garrick 90; 3) Laura Walsh 92; 4) Audrey Russo 93; 5) Shelley Smith 95; 6) Susan Gatewood 106.