Bob Rice waited at least 16 years to shoot the score he did on Friday during the first round of Chattanooga Men’s Metro Championship.
Jeff Howard waited his whole life for a score almost as good.
Rice matched his career competitive record with a 7-under 63 at Creeks Bend Golf Club during an early-morning round before he headed to a mountain cabin overlooking the Sequatchie Valley.
“Gosh, it’s been since the early or mid-90s since I’ve shot that number,” Rice said. “I’ll be 50 next month, so I don’t expect to shoot those numbers anymore. But it’s nice when they come through every now and then.”
Howard set his career tournament record on Friday with a 6-under 64, and is one stroke back, thanks largely to a Thursday putting session with Council Fire professional Richard Rebne.
“It feels good,” said Howard, who plays out of Creeks Bend. “I knew I had it in me, but I proved to myself that I could do it.”
Chase Deck is third after a 65, Tom Schreiner and Sam Bedwell are tied for fourth at 67. Tom Baird, Neil Spitalny and Wes Gilliland lead the senior division with 2-over 72s.
Lindy Henley joined the career-low club as well on Friday with a 68 that has him tied for seventh with Lee University representatives Caleb Roberson, Jerod Baldwin and Jeremy Lawson.
Henley took a cell-phone picture of his name and red-numbered score and sent it to his brother — Kip Henley who will caddy for Brian Gay in the British Open — because his little brother didn’t believe the 68.
“I’ve never shot 68 in tournament play, but I’ve done it in lowball, but that’s a different mentality because you can take more risks,” Henley said. “It’s cool shooting 68 and holding up the Henley name. That’s not something I’m famous for on the golf course.
“It helped that I didn’t have any of my little brothers telling me what to do as a caddy. I’m kidding… one of them may have helped me shoot 66.”
Rice had a good experience about a month ago when he shot a 66 in the last round at Creeks Bend during the Ira Templeton Chattanooga.
He followed that with a birdie on the first hole and then hit every green in regulation on Friday.
“I had good vibes coming off the Chattanooga Open and I’ve had good rounds before at Creeks Bend,” said Rice, who did not make a bogey. “The birdie on No. 1 softened the nerves a bit when I got that first putt in the hole.”
Howard capitalized on a lesson he learned less than 24 hours before his tee time — make a fluid putting stroke instead of jabbing at the ball in rest.
“I never putted better in my life from about the sixth hole of that lesson, and it carried over to today,” said Howard, who played at Cleveland State in 2001 before putting up his clubs from competitive golf until last summer. “It felt good proving that I can do it in tournament pressure.”