Martens starts fast, then fades Saturday

The third round of the Albertsons Boise Open began with promise for Adam Martens, the lone golfer with Treasure Valley ties to make the cut.

"I got off to a screaming start. I went par, birdie, eagle on the first three holes," the assistant pro at SpurWing Country Club said. "I hadn't really envisioned being 7-under in the third round of the Boise Open."

But Saturday's fast start didn't hold up. He bogeyed seven of the next 11 holes and finished with a 4-over 75.

"I really didn't play that bad," he said. "I was just a little off here and there, and I didn't putt quite as good as (Friday, when he shot a 66). The problem is if you're a little off out here, it's so tough. You're scrambling to make pars, and I wasn't able to do that. That was the hard part."

Martens is 13 strokes off the pace and is tied for 62nd place.

BOISE OPEN ROYALTY

The Boise Open does a good job of saluting former champions with photos placed along the 18th hole.

Two of those former champions - Greg Chalmers and Roger Tambellini - made the cut at this week's tournament.

Chalmers is at 4-under after the third round and Tambellini sits at 7-under.

Tambellini said after his round that he wished he were a few more spots up the leaderboard, but he was still happy to be here this week.

"I enjoy this tournament and the people here," said Tambellini, from Scottsdale, Ariz. "My wife and I love coming up here because of that and because we love the area."

Besides, just like you're first love, you never forget your first win on the Nationwide Tour (he won in 2003).

"I remember playing great that week," he said. "It was a fun week."

'DIVERSE' CROWD

There were plenty of things to do Saturday in the Treasure Valley.

There was the annual Hyde Park Street Fair. And Gunfighter Skies. And Trailpalooza. Oh, and there was also a much-anticipated Boise State football game at Bronco Stadium.

But the Boise Open organizers learned that there are plenty of recreational fans in the Treasure Valley to go around.

"The crowds we've had so far are the best we've had in many years," tournament director Patrick Siver said. "I'm overwhelmed by the diversity of the crowd. It's not a typical golf crowd. ... This has become a community event."

Siver said the tournament had raised more than $600,000 for charities by late Saturday, up about 20 percent from last year.

He said there were a number of reasons the tournament was enjoying its success this year, but the nice weather through the first three days certainly helped.

He's keeping his fingers crossed that Mother Nature cooperates one more day (forecasts call for it to be sunny with a high in the 80s).

"We're looking forward to a huge Sunday," he said.