D.J. Kovach will be the first one to tell you that he's not going to win any long-drive contests.

The 21-year-old Malta golfer, though, is 18 holes away from winning the State Am.

Kovach shot a 2-under-par 68 Friday at the Butte Country Club to take a five-shot lead over Spencer Williams of Great Falls and Bill Dunn of Missoula heading into Saturday's final round.

At 3-under-par 207, Kovach is the only player in the red after three rounds.

";This course is made for me," Kovach said after competing the third round on the short (6,304 yards), but tight Country Club course. ";I'm a straight hitter. I never worry about hitting long. The longer guys are getting into trouble."

Kovach, who didn't start playing competitive golf until he was a sophomore in high school, once shot an 83 at Marion Hills Golf Course in Malta to win a junior varsity tournament.

That was the only tournament Kovach, a senior at Rocky Mountain College, won at any level.

";I didn't think I'd be leading the State Am," Kovach said. ";These guys are good."

Kovach shot 34 on both nines Friday. He bogeyed No. 14 and birdied Nos. 1, 11 and 13.

";I started off with a birdie," he said. ";That really gave me a confidence booster."

The 69 by Dunn, ";Missoula's Tom Watson," was the only other sub-par round on the day.

Missoula's Marcus Williams, who was tied for the lead at 1-under after two rounds, is tied for fourth with Geoff Oliphant of Billings at 213. Oliphant shot a 70 Friday.

Laurel's Nathan Bailey is eight back at 215, while Whitefish's Shawn Tucker and defending champion Gordon Webb of Malta are sitting at 216.

Bob Wengel is Butte's best hope at 219.

Wengel's son, Ty, was disqualified for playing with an altered club while competing with the leading group.

Wengel shared the lead at 1-under after the second round.

On hole No. 9, he threw a club at his bag. That broke his driver and put a small dent in the shaft of the putter.

Wengel used the putter to complete a 39 on the front nine -- the same score he posted before shooting 31 on the back nine Thursday.

On No. 10 green, Wengel realized the dent on the club and brought it to the attention of the rest of the group.

The rules state that you can't play with a club that was altered, and Wengel's tournament was over.

";It's in there," Wengel said of the rule. ";It's one of those deep-in-the-book ones."

Wengel, 18, won't win a trophy, but he earned some admiration from many of his fellow golfers by turning himself in for the dent his competitors said they never would have noticed.

";It's one of those things I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do it," Wengel said.

Wengel shot a 69 Wednesday and a 70 on Thursday, when he birdied the last three holes.

";You can't take away the two days," Wengel said. ";That's what I'll always remember."

Kovach is headed for a day he'll always remember, too.

The lead group tees off at 12:10 p.m. Saturday. The champion will be crowned at about 5, assuming there isn't three lightning delays like there was Friday.

";I'm leading with a bunch of guys who can shoot 62," Kovach said.

The Malta golfer said he isn't going to change his approach.

";Make pars," he said of his plan for Saturday. ";Hit the ball straight off the tee, and hit the middle of the greens.

";That's the only way to do it."