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Behm, Bohlman share city golf lead

JANESVILLE — The Janesville Men’s City Golf Championship has turned into a tournament of champions.

Led by co-leaders Matt Behm and Brad Bohlman, four former city champs occupy the top four spots heading into today’s 18-hole finale at Riverside Golf Course.

Behm carded an even-par 71 Saturday at Glen Erin Golf Club and is at 147 through two rounds. Bohlman, who led by one shot after Friday’s opening round, fired a 3-over 74 on Saturday.

Bohlman and Behm have won two city titles and will be joined in today’s final threesome pairing with 2002 champ Ryan Coffey, who is two shots back. Five-time city champ Jeff Bruegger is lurking after a second-round 76 left him three shots behind at 150.

As was the case on Friday in the opening round at the Janesville Country Club, course management was the key in Round 2. With fescue bordering nearly every hole, keeping the ball in the fairway was imperative.

Behm, who finished 11th in the Wisconsin State Amateur earlier this week, avoided the fescue by hitting driver shots only four times off the orange tees. He blistered the front nine with a 2-under 33, thanks to three straight birdies at three, four and five, but he three-putted No. 15 en route to a 2-over 38 on the back.

The Riverside course record-holder with a 10-under par 62, Behm likes his chances of winning title No. 3 on his home course today.

“Everything will be right in front of me playing in the last group, and that’s the way I want it to be,” Behm said. “I don’t mind the pressure or being the favorite, but I still have to go out and take care of business.

“My goal for the whole tournament was to be even par,” Behm said. “That means I have to shoot 4-under tomorrow. Pin placements will have a lot to do with it.”

Bohlman put together a second straight solid round despite a couple of hiccups with his driver. The 1999 and 2001 champion played the front nine at 1 over par and got back to even with a birdie at the par 5, 10th. Bogeys at two of the last four holes had more to do with bordering on unfair pin placements at No. 15 and 17 than with Bohlman’s play.

“This is a fun tournament to get into, and that’s what I’ve had the first two rounds is a lot of fun,” Bohlman said. “There were a couple of times again today where I didn’t know where my driver was going, but I’ve putted pretty well both days.

“It’s nice to be playing in the final group on Sunday, but I’m going to have to bring it tomorrow to have a chance.”

Coffey had the second-lowest round of the day Saturday with a 2-over 73 and was one of only eight golfers to break 80 from the orange tees.

Although Coffey said Behm is the favorite today, he’s excited about playing in the final group.

“Matt’s playing really good golf right now, but there are a lot of guys in this field that could shoot a low round tomorrow,” Coffey said. “That’s why Riverside is a fun course to play because there are birdie opportunities on almost every hole.

“It will probably take a round in the 60s to win tomorrow, and that’s what I’ll be shooting for.”

Braddy Bohlman shot 76 on Saturday and is six shots off the lead, while Michael Kleitzien is eight back after a 78.

Steve Caya fired his second straight 82 to take over the lead in A Flight. Mike Reid, along with first-round leader Matt Stried, is two shots back.