By Patrick Donahue
Assistant Sports Editor
There are birdies and fun to be had at the Black Creek Club this week.
Brandt Snedeker followed his opening round 62 with a 7-under 65, to take a one-shot lead at 17 under going into the final two rounds.
“I played pretty well today,” Snedeker said. “I played real solid. It was a fun day.”
Many more are joining in the merriment. Craig Bowden grabbed the lead briefly on the back nine, with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to get to 18-under par. But he gave those strokes back with bogeys on the final two holes. He finished with a 7-under 65 and is tied for second at 16 under with Garrett Willis and Boo Weekley.
“I played well again,” Bowden said. “It was a good day other than the last two holes. I’m pleased with the way things are going. It’s always fun when you’re playing well.”
Snedeker is doing both of those things. Snedeker, a Nashville native and Vanderbilt University grad, missed the cut at the Knoxville Open last week by two shots.
“I felt I played well at Knoxville and had nothing to show for it,” he said.
Weekley, one of the last players to finish in a round held up by a 1-hour, 58-minute delay, birdied the 18th after putting his second shot right where he wanted to —; in the front left bunker.
“I feel good about my bunker game,” Weekley said, noting he didn’t to be behind the hole or in the other bunker and face a downhill shot. “I got a little lucky and I got a good lie.”
He blasted for a short birdie putt and capped a 9-under 63 for the day, his best round ever on the tour. His 63 was also the best round of the day. And Weekley said it could have been better, since he had three putts for eagle inside of 10 feet and made only one.
“I’ve only made one mistake,” he said of his first two rounds. “I’m seeing my targets, seeing my lines and hitting them. I’m putting real well.”
Kevin Gessino-Kraft is alone in fifth at 15 under, after his 6-under 66, and Andrew Buckle is in sixth at 14 under. Buckle, who won the Virginia Beach Open, posted a second straight 7-under 65. Five others are at 13 under.
Like so many others atop the leaderboard, Gessino-Kraft readily agreed that he’s had a good time the first two days.
“How can you not?” he said. “I’m hitting it well and I’m putting it well. That’s what it’s all about.”
The cut came at 7 under, meaning Ringgold resident and Baylor School grad Luke List squeaked into the weekend. List had a 6-under 66 Friday.
“I put myself in better spots and I putted better,” he said. “There are so many birdie opportunities out here, you don’t have to force the issue.”
His playing partner, fellow Ringgold resident and University of Alabama golf team member Thomas Hagler IV, reeled off another 5-under 67 and is tied for 20th at 10 under. He birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth holes on his way to playing with the pros for the weekend.
“It’s been fun. I don’t know how else to explain it,” Hagler said. “I’ve played some good golf and played with some good guys. Luke played great today. You feed off someone like that. He’s fun to watch. It’s just fun to go out and make birdies and play solid golf.”
As Hagler and List got to the 17th, the scoreboard showed where the cut might fall. Not that Hagler paid much mind to it.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” he said. “I mean, what do I have to lose.”
Bowden and one of his playing partners, Scott Petersen, started their own birdie binge. He had four birdies and an eagle through the first seven holes Friday and Petersen, who missed the cut by one shot after a double bogey on the 16th, was 7 under for his round after 11 holes.
“When you get guys in your group playing well, you need to keep that roll going,” Bowden said.
E-mail Patrick Donahue at pdonahue@timesfreepress.com
Assistant Sports Editor
There are birdies and fun to be had at the Black Creek Club this week.
Brandt Snedeker followed his opening round 62 with a 7-under 65, to take a one-shot lead at 17 under going into the final two rounds.
“I played pretty well today,” Snedeker said. “I played real solid. It was a fun day.”
Many more are joining in the merriment. Craig Bowden grabbed the lead briefly on the back nine, with back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to get to 18-under par. But he gave those strokes back with bogeys on the final two holes. He finished with a 7-under 65 and is tied for second at 16 under with Garrett Willis and Boo Weekley.
“I played well again,” Bowden said. “It was a good day other than the last two holes. I’m pleased with the way things are going. It’s always fun when you’re playing well.”
Snedeker is doing both of those things. Snedeker, a Nashville native and Vanderbilt University grad, missed the cut at the Knoxville Open last week by two shots.
“I felt I played well at Knoxville and had nothing to show for it,” he said.
Weekley, one of the last players to finish in a round held up by a 1-hour, 58-minute delay, birdied the 18th after putting his second shot right where he wanted to —; in the front left bunker.
“I feel good about my bunker game,” Weekley said, noting he didn’t to be behind the hole or in the other bunker and face a downhill shot. “I got a little lucky and I got a good lie.”
He blasted for a short birdie putt and capped a 9-under 63 for the day, his best round ever on the tour. His 63 was also the best round of the day. And Weekley said it could have been better, since he had three putts for eagle inside of 10 feet and made only one.
“I’ve only made one mistake,” he said of his first two rounds. “I’m seeing my targets, seeing my lines and hitting them. I’m putting real well.”
Kevin Gessino-Kraft is alone in fifth at 15 under, after his 6-under 66, and Andrew Buckle is in sixth at 14 under. Buckle, who won the Virginia Beach Open, posted a second straight 7-under 65. Five others are at 13 under.
Like so many others atop the leaderboard, Gessino-Kraft readily agreed that he’s had a good time the first two days.
“How can you not?” he said. “I’m hitting it well and I’m putting it well. That’s what it’s all about.”
The cut came at 7 under, meaning Ringgold resident and Baylor School grad Luke List squeaked into the weekend. List had a 6-under 66 Friday.
“I put myself in better spots and I putted better,” he said. “There are so many birdie opportunities out here, you don’t have to force the issue.”
His playing partner, fellow Ringgold resident and University of Alabama golf team member Thomas Hagler IV, reeled off another 5-under 67 and is tied for 20th at 10 under. He birdied the fourth, fifth and sixth holes on his way to playing with the pros for the weekend.
“It’s been fun. I don’t know how else to explain it,” Hagler said. “I’ve played some good golf and played with some good guys. Luke played great today. You feed off someone like that. He’s fun to watch. It’s just fun to go out and make birdies and play solid golf.”
As Hagler and List got to the 17th, the scoreboard showed where the cut might fall. Not that Hagler paid much mind to it.
“I didn’t think anything of it,” he said. “I mean, what do I have to lose.”
Bowden and one of his playing partners, Scott Petersen, started their own birdie binge. He had four birdies and an eagle through the first seven holes Friday and Petersen, who missed the cut by one shot after a double bogey on the 16th, was 7 under for his round after 11 holes.
“When you get guys in your group playing well, you need to keep that roll going,” Bowden said.
E-mail Patrick Donahue at pdonahue@timesfreepress.com
