It will be a couple of Bens representing the purple-and-gold pride at 9:30 a.m. today at the Butte Country Club. Carroll College golf coach Ben MacIntyre and one of the Saints' latest recruits, Ben Ternes, will play together during the third round of the 92nd Montana State Mens Amateur Championship.

MacIntyre carded a 4-over par 74 for the second round of the tourney in the Mining City Wednesday, pulling to within 10 strokes of the leaders. He shot a 75 on Wednesday and stands at 149, which ties him for 24th place.

One stroke back, at 150, is former Capital High standout Ternes.

There is a four-way tie at the top of the leader board. Posting scores of 1-under par 139 were Butte's Ty Wengell (69-70), Marcus Williams of Missoula (71-68), Great Falls' Spencer Williams (69-70) and D.J. Kovach of Malta (67-72).

MacIntyre was even-par through the first seven holes Thursday, and then went five over on holes 10-12, before finishing with a flourish, shooting two-under over the final six.

";My best hole was the 18th, when I had to hit through the trees to reach the green, and then made a long putt for birdie," said MacIntyre, who played most of the opening round and all of the second of the State-Am with a borrowed club.

";On the first day, my pitching wedge shattered in my hands," MacIntyre said. ";The club head flew off, the iron shattered and the ball went flying off to the side. I borrowed a club from GMCC, and had the wedge reshafted here in Butte, so I'll have my own club back Friday."

Ternes, who fired a 74 on Wednesday and will be a freshman for Carroll this fall, is in the same group with his coach today.

";We're scheduled to tee off at 9:30," MacIntyre said. ";This is a good course to hit some drivers and wedges, so hopefully I can get my touch going. And I'm looking forward to playing with Ben, it should be a lot of fun."

Other local linksters close behind are Brady Kirkeby (75-77) and Todd Waterman (75-77) at 152, Bryson Buska at 153 (80-73), John Reeves at 158 (80-78) and Drew Stetzner at 159 (81-78).

Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net