RISING FAWN, Ga. - Gordon Lee High School teachers Shonn Weldon and Jared Willerson delivered individual clinics in the first round of the Chattanooga Men's Metro golf tournament Friday.
Weldon, who stepped down from an administrative position to return to the classroom and spend more time with his teenage children, leads the field after a 2-under-par 69. Willerson, a high school economics teacher and the Georgia Northwestern Technical College golf coach, beat the two GNTC players in the field.
"This sets me up for the next six months," said Willerson, who posted a 75 while GNTC sophomores Jordan Estes and Grant Allen shot 76 and 80, respectively.
"They will never take this day away from me," Willerson joked. "I think they saw that this old man can grind a little bit.
"I never felt like I was out of the hole until it was done, and that's the attitude I want all my players to have."
Weldon topped all competitors on the course that received rave reviews Friday for its smooth greens and fair set-up for a championship. Canyon Ridge is 10 years old and has seen its struggles but is on the rise, according to head professional Doug Amor.
"Real estate is better, and the golf industry is better," Amor said. "Things are on the upturn."
Weldon, who admitted he easily could shoot an 80 in the second round today, leads Chattanooga amateur veteran Richard Spangler, Dalton State sophomore Levi Nix and former Covenant College coach Tom Schreiner by one stroke after they all shot 1-under 70. Ryan Carrington and Matt Crowder are two off the lead.
The Black Creek Club trio of John Lambert, Mitch Hufstetler and Walt Moffitt won the Harold Lane Memorial team championship with a 63.
"I've never played in a real tournament up here, so that does tighten things up a little bit out here," Weldon said. "This is the best golf I've played in three or four years, and that's how long I'd been in administration.
"For once, I could play golf and didn't have to worry about something at school, and I can spend more time with my kids."
He's proud to be in the lead.
The two Bobcats players are not proud to be trailing their coach. They're younger, more limber and more willing to take risks. Those risks, with the championship field teeing grounds closer than playing from tips that they're used to, resulted in squares on the scorecards.
"My personal best up here is a 68 from the tips," Estes said. "Coach usually doesn't beat us. Today was an off day."
"It's not the best feeling in the world losing to Coach," said Allen, who was doubly disappointed by trailing both Willerson and Estes. "If I'm going to get beat, I want Coach to beat me. I don't want my teammates to beat me at all."
But two Gordon Lee teachers were still delivering lessons.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP