Taylor Lewis is one of the old men in the field of the Choo-Choo Invitational golf tournament. He's 30 years old.
And he's tied for the lead after the first of three rounds at Council Fire Golf Club while competing against a field full of college golfers who aspire to win the U.S. Amateur and then provide for a family by playing on the PGA Tour.
Taylor Lewis is a local 30-year-old tied with two collegians after the first round of the Choo-Choo Invitational golf tournament.Lewis, University of Tennessee junior Jack Smith and UT-Martin sophomore Hunter Richardson each shot a 5-under-par 67 on Monday and share the lead heading into the second round.
"I can still beat the kids, especially since this tournament is on my home course," said Lewis, who earned an exemption into the field based on his tie for third place last year. "That helps, for sure."
Lewis shot his 67 even with a double bogey on No. 8 after his approach from the rough sailed the green and landed a few feet from a water hazard. An eagle on No. 13 highlighted his back nine.
"I made five birdies, an eagle and a dub," Lewis said while checking his work schedule for the next few days. "The course is in great shape. I just wish I could make a putt."
Smith, who has played in this tournament since its inception in 2013, started the day with birdies on his first five holes.
Getting a birdie on No. 1 is nice. Scoring a birdie on the par-5 No.2 is assumed for good college golfers like Smith.
But the momentum continued. Smith was 5 under through five holes.
"I don't know how," he said with a humble face. "I just had a bunch of wedges in, and I was hitting it right next to the hole."
Richardson, who earned a spot in the 2014 U.S. Amateur through a qualifier at Cleveland Country Club, earned his way into the final group today.
"I didn't get in trouble and I didn't have any three-putts," Richardson said. "My driver was terrible in the practice round, but today I only missed two fairways. I also missed a few putts but also made a few putts, too.
"I think it's going to take three good rounds of 4 or 5 under to win."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.