ROBERTSON STANDS 3RD IN MISSOURI AMATEUR

ST. ALBANS, Mo. -- Defending champion Tyler Shelton of Fairway, Kan., and Marty Sallaz of Overland Park, Kan., each shot 4-under-par 68 Tuesday in the opening qualifying round of the 88th Missouri Amateur tournament.

Colby Robertson, who will be a senior at Poplar Bluff High School in the fall, was two shots back and three golfers shot 71s at the Country Club of St. Albans.

There are 156 golfers competing in the event in this St. Louis suburb. Following another qualifying round on Wednesday, the field will be pared to 64 golfers, who will compete beginning Thursday in a match-play format. On Sunday, the top two finishers will go head-to-head in a 36-hole match.

Top scorers:

Tyler Shelton, Fairway, Kan., 68

Marty Sallaz, Overland Park, Kan., 68

Colby Robertson, Poplar Bluff, 70

Matt Roney, Blue Springs, 71

Don Bliss, Chesterfield, 71

Dee Sanders, Columbia, 71

Chris Wedle, St. Joseph, 72

Jim Holtgrieve, St. Louis, 72

Steve Groom, Raytown, 72

Mike Moore, Springfield, 72

Ron Brewer, Leawood, Kan., 72

Frank Hayes, Granite City, Ill., 73

Dan Barry, St. Louis, 73

John Stahlschmidt, St. Louis, 73

Jerry Waitulavich, Chesterfield, 73

Richard Jarrett, St. Louis, 73

Phil Keim, Ballwin, 73

Craig Caringer, Ballwin, 73

Craig Schnurbusch, Farmington, 73

Barry Yehling, St. Louis, 73

Skip Berkmeyer, St. Louis, 73

Jason Schultz, Columbia, 73

Ron Hubbard, Sedalia, 73

Jay Schnieders, Jefferson City, 74

Andy Fogarty, Chesterfield, 74

Andy Frost, St. Louis, 74

Lee Larimore, Carl Junction, 74

Karl Elbrecht, St. Louis, 74

Robert Godwin, Poplar Bluff, 74