Zobell weathers conditions, field for lead

PAYSON — Heading into today's final 18 holes of the Gladstan Open, host pro Tracy Zobell has a one-shot lead over four others after firing an even-par 72 in tough conditions Saturday.

Zobell, as temperatures cooled and winds increased, had four bogeys and four birdies playing from the black tees. He reached 1-under par after making birdies on Nos. 6 and 7, but fell back to 1-over par with bogeys on Nos. 13 and 16. A birdie on the par-5 18th got him back to even par and first place, all alone in first in the hunt for the top professional check

However, leading the group at 73 and h ot on his heels is two-time defending champion Chris Moody, J. R. Shears, Casey Fowles and Clark Rustand at 1-over 73. Alone at 74 is Mark Owen, with Shyler Andreason posting a 75 and Ryan Kartchner a 76.

In the championship amateur flight, contested from the blue tees, Utah's Brady Machin fired the day's low round with a 3-under 69 — which included an ace on the par-3 second hole with a 6-iron from 185 yards. Machin also had five birdies and four bogeys on his card.

Spanish Fork's Jon Christensen shot a 70 and East Bay's Tadd Cox had a 71 and is one shot behind and East Bay's Tadd Cox is two back with a first-round 71. Tyson Lund, Brent Simons, Robbie Fillmore and Daniel Reid are at 74.

— Jim Rayburn