COREY EVANS, one of three local golfers participating in the 49th annual Tennessee Junior Amateur Championship, hits his tee shot to kick off the back nine at Black Creek Golf Club. Evans was joined by Clark Melton and Evan Ball.
Evans, a Young Harris College signee, finished his opening round in a five-way tie for 11th, shooting an even 72 to open the tournament.
After an ominous double bogey start on No. 1 Evans found his stride on the remaining front nine, birdieing Nos. 5 and 6 to bring him back to even at the turn.
He had to battle his way back again on the back nine after bogeying Nos. 10 and 12, but birdies on 14 and 16 helped solidify a solid opening round.
Melton, who has signed with the University of West Georgia, also found himself sitting a even at the end of his opening 18. However, he did find himself up and down throughout his first round.
Melton opened on the back nine, posting bogies on Nos. 12 and 15, a double bogey on No. 17 and birdies on 13, 16 and 18. The Walker Valley graduate found himself one stroke over before heading to the front nine.
Making a comeback of his own, Melton stumbled slightly on No. 4 with a double bogey but made up for it with birdies on Nos. 1, 8 and 9 to claw his way back to even and a share of 11th place.
Also starting on the back nine, Ball had some difficulty implementing his plan to shoot a fade and fell behind early before finding a groove.
Ball bogeyed holes 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 18 to open his round. Yet, bad didn’t go to worse. Sitting at 7-over going into the turn, Ball was able to shoot even par on the front nine with a bogey on No. 1 and a birdie on No. 4. He finished in a four-way tie for 33rd.
There is still time to make headway in the event, and all three golfers will be setting their sights on a golfer by the name of Dowling Armstrong who has charged to the head of the pack with a 6-under-par 66 to finish his first round of play.
After Armstrong, there is a four-way tie for second place with Jack Smith, Mitchell Thomas, Stuart Thomas and Peyton Sliger all sitting at 5-under going into the second round.
Close to half of the golfers were unable to finish their first round due to a system of thunderstorms that moved into the area. The plan was for them to finish this morning, placing a slight hour’s delay on the start of second round play.
A field of 72 golfers has qualified for the event and is vying for a chance to be named the best in Tennessee.
