Andrews Have It

Silver Lakes, – Chattanooga’s Weathers leads, and Alexandria’s Brooks one stroke back after first round of Trail Championship at Silver Lakes.

By Joe Medley

The Andrews have it after one round of the Trail Championship.

Chattanooga’s Andrew Weathers shot a 9-under-par 63 in Saturday’s first round at Silver Lakes and leads Alexandria’s Andrew Brooks by one stroke headed into Sunday’s final round.

Ty Cole and Gary Wigington are tied for third at 67.

The Trail Championship is the second points event on the 2024 Calhoun County Golf Tour and Weathers’ first appearance on the Tour. His Saturday round marked his second at Silver Lakes and first since a U.S. Amateur qualifier in high school.

The former University of Chattanooga golfer and one-time Southern Conference freshman of the year played the Trail Championship at the invitation of Chattanooga friends Clayton Chandler and Jonathan Swader.

“They asked me to come down with them,” said Weathers, who graduated from UC in 2018 and  works as a RE/MAX real-estate agent. “It’s been a good experience so far.”

Weathers birdied three of the first four holes and made the turn at 6-under 30. He reached 7 under with a birdie on 10 then strung together four consecutive pars before birdieing 15 and 16.

“I felt like I was just really reading the greens pretty well today,” he said. “I didn’t hit it super close but had a few long ones on the front. Back nine started kind of slow then made a few birdies coming in.

“I just felt like I was reading the greens well. That was kind of the main thing today, the main focus today.”

Brooks, seeking his first Tour victory since last year at Cane Creek, bogeyed No. 2 but quickly recovered with a birdie on No. 3 then found his stride. He eagled the par-5 No. 9 then put together five birdies on the back nine.

His eagle included a “lucky break,” he said. His tee shot landed on the cart path and rolled him into within a gap wedge. His second shot hit to within six feet.

Brooks’ adjustment started on No. 8.

“I found something in my swing on about No. 8 and went birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on 8, 9, 10 and 11,” he said. “I started rolling the ball pretty good on the greens and just got some confidence going into the second half of the round.

“I was holding onto the club head. I kind of figured that out after I blocked a drive out on 7. I came into 8 and started releasing the club head, and it just got a lot better real quick.”

Brooks seeks his first victory in the Trail Championship.

“Winning any of these things on this tour is tough, so they’re all special,” he said.

First-round scores

Sunday’s final-round tee times

7:30 a.m.: Scott Jimmerson, Chris Grenert, Austin Martin.
7:40 a.m.: Mike Ledbetter, Mike Lett, Keith Hutcheson, Harrison Culbert.
7:50 a.m.: Ted Gregerson, Chase Thomas, Tyler Smith, Tyrell Tucker.
8 a.m.: Cody Boyd, Craig Graves, Cody Wesson, Cory Wesson.
8:10 a.m.: Jason McCain, Matt Greer, Ryan Summerford, Michael Giddens.
8:20 a.m.: Kyle Webb, Jason Britton, Devin Williams, Andrew Gunnells.
8:30 a.m.: Ott Chandler, Chris Reaves, Blake Grisham, Taylor Vera.
8:40 a.m.: Danny Whittaker, Mark Durden, Drey Reeves, Chris Leonhardt.
8:50 a.m.: Greg Shultz, Joseph Lacy, Dre Davenport, Michael Rich, Jr.
9 a.m.: Chase Hollingsworth, Clay Calkins, Robert Daniel, Tate Heuer.
9:10 a.m.: Mark Sawyer, Houston Black, Zack Pruitt, Clayton Chandler.
9:20 a.m.: Chance Harris, Gabe Sanders, Cam Hurst, Sawyer Edwards.
9:30 a.m.: Fisher Prichard, Ryan Huff, Jeremy McGatha, Jeff Bain.
9:40 a.m.: Jonathan Swader, Chandler Richards, Bob Eaton, Bradley Landin.
9:50 a.m.: Daily Thomas, Dustin Underwood, Nick Ledbetter, Alex Harper.
10 a.m.: Logan Forrester, Vance Lewis, Chris Cox, Dustin Travis.
10:10 a.m.: John Rollins, Timmy Woodard, Maverick Smith, Hunter Fordham.
10:20 a.m.: Tommy Simmons, Dane Moore, Ethyn Roberts, Will Reaves.
10:30 a.m.: Will Sanders, Mason Dennis, Scott Martin, Jeff Chapman.
10:40 a.m.: Trent Mansfield, Brennan Clay, Zach Contris, Layton Bussey.
10:50 a.m.: Andrew Weathers, Andrew Brooks, Gary Wigington, Ty Cole.

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