Zach Sucher

Zach Sucher’s sensational round seemed to take a quick turn south on No. 17 when he flew the green.

Facing at least a bogey and a likely double-bogey on the par-3, Sucher summoned a bit of skill and a lot of luck.

A sensational chip summarized his surprising Friday round of 62, which ties the competitive course record set by current PGA Tour pro Ed Dougherty in 1992.

Sucher also owns the individual lead by two strokes at 1 -under par in the NCAA East Regional at the par-71 setup at Council Fire Golf Club.

Sucher recorded 10 birdies and a lone bogey on No. 9. He shot 28 on the back nine, including the birdie on No. 17 that drew the largest cheers of the day.

“My putter got very hot,” said Sucher, who birdied five holes in a row to start the back. “I was hitting my irons perfect and I wasn’t afraid to aim at anything.”

His tee shot with a 3-iron on No. 17 flew the green by about 25 yards and came to rest a few feet from the hazard.

The junior pulled his lob wedge with the intent of driving the ball into the hill and having it bounce on the green.

“I was happy that it was going to be on the green, so I turned and picked up my bag,” Sucher said. “Then everybody went nuts.

“I was just trying to avoid double-bogey.”

Sucher didn’t see it drop. UAB coach Alan Kaufman watched it the whole way.

“You could take a thousand balls and it wouldn’t happen again,” said Kaufman, whose team is in seventh place at 7 under. “He’s one of the best players in the country, and when good players get hot, anything can happen.”

Leaver leaves hardwood

Austin Peay senior Grant Leaver earned dozens of accolades for playing basketball, but he earned his scholarship by playing golf.

But he couldn’t shake the desire to give college hoops a try. Before his junior year, Austin Peay coach Dave Loos gave him a chance.

“He told me that he wanted to give it a shot to see if he could play at that level,” golf coach Kirk Kayden said. “If he didn’t give it a shot, it would have eaten at him for the rest of his life.”

The 6-foot-8 forward can play at the mid-major level. But he’s better at golf. Leaver played in seven games, scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

His spring golf season suffered, so he did not return to the hardwood this past fall. His concentration on golf helped him earn a spot in the NCAA East Regional as an individual participant.

“It turns out that it paid off,” said Leaver, who has a two-round total of 144. “This has been great.”

Cook cooking course

Western Carolina senior Matt Cook brought his team to the NCAA regional after participating as an individual last year.

The Catamounts are in 18th place at 6 over, but Cook is in the hunt for the individual title even after he pulled a shoulder muscle warming up Friday morning.

“I didn’t think I was going to tee it up, but I got some treatment and the trainer made me feel good,” said Cook, who is fourth, four shots behind Sucher. “I certainly didn’t think I’d play like I did.”

Cook shot a 3-under round of 68.

“I’m going to do everything I can to get the title,” he said. “I would love to win it and I’m definitely going to go for it.”

WCU coach Gorham Bradley also had an interesting day. If he had been back in Cullowhee, N.C., doctors would have induced labor on his wife Rebecca, who is days away from delivering their first child.