Former Lee University golfer Brandson Cissom, who will be 28 this year, and 16-year-old Baylor School student Danny Gleeson, set the pace in the first round of the 36-hole tournament at 5-under-par 67.
Defending Invitational Champion Richard Spangler Jr., who returned Friday night from competition in this week’s Tennessee Amateur Championship at Colonial Golf and Country Club in Cordova, is tied with country club member Ryan Hulton and Nick Carden for third place with 2-under-par 70s.
Also in this year’s title hunt (Championship A Flight), are Hunter Vest and Josh Nelms at 72; Chris Schmidt, Jimmy White III and Matt Mathis at 72; and Bob Rice, Caleb Roberson, Chase Deck, Matt Robertson, Rob Lyle and Tom Schreiner at 73.
Seven players are tied for the lead in the Championship B Flight with 2-over-par 74s. The leaders include Health Tarver, Jimmy Watkins, Polk County High school graduate and Tennessee Wesleyan signee Keoni Vidrine, Matt Hadden, Mathew Baker, Mike Jenkins and Nick Kinzer.
Two strokes behind the leaders in the B Flight are Cleveland Country Club champion and Lee golf coach John Maupin and Cleveland’s Matt Crowder, who also competed in the State Amateur this week.
First Flight scores range from 81 to 100, with the threesome of Andy Pennington, Austin Polivka and John Bischof holding the top spot. Chip Muller and Cameron Vaughn are tied at 82 and the fivesome of Brock Rush, Greg Rush, Mike Isham, Patrick Armor and Pokey Gray are two more shots back, at 84.
David Moss of Signal Mountain, who had an impressive up-and-down from well wide of the fairway on the 18th hole for his 2-under-par 70, is all alone at 70 to lead the Senior Division. Cleveland Country Club’s Gerald Burns is a shot behind Moss at 71, and Bob Martin and Eddie Watson share third place with 74s.
Play will resume at 7:30 a.m. today, with awards to be presented by Country Club general manager Lamar Mills at the conclusion of play.
Cissom and Gleeson both had steady rounds on Saturday. Cissom finished early with a 34-33—67, while the high schooler came in later with his 33-34—67.
Cissom collected birdies at No. 1 and 6 for his 2-under on the front nine. He had additional birdies at No. 10, 13 and 14 for his 5-under score. Gleesom made the turn in 33 strokes, getting birdies on three holes in a row at 5, 6 and 7. On the back side he knocked additional strokes off par at 10 and 12. There was not a bogey on either scorecard.
Saturday’s scores:
Championship Flight A: 67—Brandon Cissom, Danny Gleesom. 70 — Richard Spangler Jr., Nick Carden, Ryan Hulton. 71 — Hunter Vest, Josh Nelms. 72 — Chris Schmidt, Jimmy White III, Matt Mathis. 73 — Bob Rice, Caleb Roberson, Chase Deck, Matt Robertson, Rob Lyle, Tom Schreiner.
Championship Flight B: 74 — Heath Tarver, Jimmy Watkins, Keoni Vidrine, Matt Hadden, Matthew Baker, Mike Jenkins, Nick Kinzer. 75 — Stan Sherlin. 76 — Blake Davidson, Brooks Thomas, John Lambert, John Maupin, Matt Crowder, Keith Barrett. 78 — Gary Baker. 80 — Ben Vaughn, Bill Towers Jr., Brent Neuenschwander, Conner Caprara, Josh Woodard, Sam Bedwell.
First Flight: 81 — Andy Pennington, Austin Polivka, John Bischof. 82 — Chip Muller, Cameron Vaughn. 84 — Brock Rush, Greg Rush, Mike Isham, Patrick Armor, Pokey Gray. 85 — David Turner; 86 — Harry Bridges, Marty Rowe, Ron Sampson. 87 — Terry Marsh. 88 — Matthew McNulty. 90 — Sean Deberry. 91 — Charlie Mizer, Rick Wilson. 94 — Bill Leatherwood. 98 — Keith Abercrombie.
Seniors: 70 — David Moss. 71 — Gerald Burns. 74 — Bob Martin, Eddie Watson. 75 — Charles Floyd. 76 — Ronnie Law. 81 — Kenneth Bennett. 82 — James Kreuser, Mike Usery, Pat Johnstone. 83 — Jeff Willerton. 85 — Bob Benjamin. 92 — Jimmy Evans.
