It's been about 20 years since Roderick Bowman competed in the sport he loves most -- wrestling.
Since he last wrestled in high school, Bowman remained active through working out, cycling and jogging. He's now taken up golf to keep his competitive juices flowing at 38 years old.
"Golf is something that a lot of my friends play, and I didn't want to be left out," Bowman said. "I've learned that it's a very mental game -- more than any other sport I've played -- and you have to concentrate."
Bowman moved to the Chattanooga area about six months ago to be with his fiancée. He came from Monticello, Ga., after growing up in Cape Coral, Fla.
"I want to work on my swing, work on my score and be able to compete with all my friends," said Bowman, who has a starter set of clubs and will upgrade his equipment when his game improves enough for an investment. "Every day that I'm off or I have some free time, I hit balls and work at it."