BLACKFOOT - On a day when high winds made club selection a guessing game, not one of the 208 players in the Von Elm Memorial golf tournament could match par Saturday at Blackfoot Golf Club. A couple came close, however, as Jake Sestero and Efren Quintero Jr. posted 1-over-par rounds of 73.

"It was tough out there this morning," said Sestero, an Idaho Falls native who attends Boise State University. "It was really cold and windy."

The elements were at least partly to blame for a shaky start for Sestero, who found himself 3-over-par after six holes on the back nine, where championship players first teed off. He took bogeys on the 11th and 14th holes, and an out-of-bounds six on the 15th.

"I just hozzled it off the golf course," said Sestero, who is seeking to follow in the footsteps of his brother Luke, a two-time winner of the Von Elm title. Fortunately for him, he was able to right the ship and played the tougher front nine in 2-under-par 34. He birdied three of the par-5 holes, but took bogey on the par-5 14th, a hole that normally causes players to salivate in expectation of a birdie.

Quintero, who is competing in the first flight, had three bogeys on his outgoing nine for 38 but steadied on the back with a bogey-free 35.

Closest pursuers to Sestero were Gary Baumgartner, playing his home course, and Pocatello's John Wilson, both of whom carded 2-over-par 74s. Wilson got off to a wretched start with two bogeys and a double bogey, but played his final 15 holes 2-under-par. Baumgartner was even on the front after bogeying against the wind on No. 18 for a 38 on the back side.

Just how strong was the wind?

"I ripped a drive on 18, then ripped a 2-iron and rolled in a 30-footer for birdie," said Congressman Mike Simpson, who battled to an 81 in the first flight. That hole normally plays to a drive off the tee and an 8-iron or 9-iron second shot to the green. By late afternoon, the winds had subsided.

David Hagar was two shots behind Quintero with a 75, and Pocatello's Darren Kuhn was among four players tied at 76, due in part to a 60-foot birdie putt on the eighth green.

Tied for the lead in the second flight at 77 were Delynn Morgan and Shaun Christensen.

There was a three-way tie atop the third flight at 79 among Ed Bisharat, Jim Hagar and Jim Hobbs. Bryan Beers and Vic Velasquez led the fourth flight with 82s, and Darrell Richards was the net leader in the fifth flight with 76.5.

PAR OUT 544 435 344 - 36

Sestero out 445 434 244 - 34

Wilson out 444 435 353 - 35

Baumgartner out 545 334 444 - 36

Quintero out 544 544 354 - 38

PAR IN 345 454 344 - 36

Sestero in 354 466 344 - 39

Wilson in 444 435 353 - 35

Baumgartner in 354 554 345 - 38

Quintero in 344 454 344 - 35

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT LEADERS

Jake Sestero 73

John Wilson 74

Gary Baumgartner 74

Shawn Bystrom 75

Marc Rhoades 75

Glen Blakeley 75

Steve Hays 75

Bruce Herbst 75

Rick Carosone 76

Cesar Quintero 77

Travis Hofland 78

Brandon Jackman 78

Chris Inglis 78

Mel Savage 79

Jim Stinger 79

FIRST FLIGHT LEADERS

Efren Quintero Jr. 73

David Hagar 75

Matt Phillips 76

John McLeod 76

Darren Kuhn 76

Chris Smith 76

Scott Hays 76

Jeff Taylor 78

Don Frongner 80

Joe Williams 81

Travis Sensenbach 81

Mike Simpson 81

Mike Jorde 81

SECOND FLIGHT LEADERS

Delynn Morgan 77

Shaun Christensen 77

Todd Adams 80

Bill Davis 81

Wynn Beebe 81

Whitney Manwaring 82

Bill Cutler 82

John Hagar 82

Mike Faler 83

Hank Clark 83

Jason Rice 84

Doug Mackay 84

Jeremy Shoemaker 85

Quinn Watt 85

Efren Quintero Sr. 85

THIRD FLIGHT LEADERS

Edward Bisharat 79

Jim Hagar 79

Jim Hobbs 79

Terry Turpin 80

Cleave Lewis 82

Gary Adams 86

Steven Brandvold 86

Hank Brown 86

Layne Hanson 86

Woody Hiroto 86

John Solis 86

Vic Valente 86

FOURTH FLIGHT LEADERS

Bryan Beers 82

Vic Velasquez 82

Jeb Harrison 84

Dennie Arnold 87

Dave Chavez 87

John Davis 87

Pete Atkins 88

Todd Ferri 89

Marv Mitani 89

Farrell Cammack 90

Nick Carter 90

Ricky Dotson 90

Jerry McPharlin 90

FIFTH FLIGHT LEADERS

(Net scores)

Jay Ellis 74

Darrell Richards 76.5

Rob Zazzara 78.5

Ken Hall 79.5

H.M. Smith 78.5

Fay Harris 81

Bob Saban 81

Joey Benedetti 83

Tom Chopski 82.5

Steve Johnson 85