"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

July 9, 2002

A year ago Pat Corey, riding an opening-round 65 that was the only sub-par score shot in the tournament, coasted to victory in the Chattanooga Men’s Metro at Lookout Mountain Golf.

What a difference a year makes.

As dominant as he was on his home course a year ago, Corey enters this week’s Metro with very little confidence in his game. He shot a 74 in the only round of the Signal Mountain Invitational at the start of the year, then he and his partner, Lex Tarumianz, lost in the final of a Four-Ball Tournament in North Carolina.

"And it’s gone downhill from there,’’ Corey said. "It’s been a tough season—a combination of not playing a lot of tournament golf and I’ve been struggling with my swing.’’

To have a legitimate chance of defending his Metro championship, Corey called on Lookout Mountain professional Tad Holly for some help.

"I’ve now got an idea about some of my bad habits,’’ Corey said. "I’ve trying to work around and out of it. This weekend should be interesting.

"Tad said my arms were out-racing my shoulder moves, that I was lifting them straight up. That creates a reverse pivot, so I’m trying to get back to the one-piece move if I can.’’

Corey also went to the beach last week with his family.

"Hopefully, that also helped,’’ he said. "I’m hoping to be refreshed and be ready to defend this title.’’

Corey said Lookout Mountain defeated everybody last year. He had the only round under par as the players had trouble adjusting to the course. His knowledge and course management paid huge dividends.

The Metro will be played this year at Black Creek, where Corey is also a member. He denies that will be to his advantage.

"I’m a member there and I love the course, but I don’t get to play as much as I would like to,’’ he said. "It holds no water that I have an advantage down there.

"So many players play out there a lot more than I do. They have more of an advantage than I do.’’

Other former Metro champions in the field include Andrew Black—who has won three of the last five titles—Lex Tarumianz, Neil Spitalny, and Richard Keene. Other top contenders are Philip Guess, Kevin Law, Mike Miller and Chris Gilliland.

Guess is ranked No. 1 in the Pro Golf Superstore chattanoogatpc.com Top 20, and Black won the Signal Mountain Invitational earlier this year. Law won the Cleveland Invitational a few weeks ago, and last season teamed with his father to win the Tennessee Four-Ball at Black Creek.

"Andrew Black is long with a good short game and Philip Guess is playing great,’’ Corey said. "There are a number of people who could contend. The course is in great shape and you can go low out there. All the par 5s are reachable, especially for the younger guys.

"It’s hard to predict a winner. You can play conservative and shoot a good score. You can also be aggressive, but you have to be careful. A double-bogey can pop up on that course at any time. The winner will be the one who makes the most birdies and the least mistakes.’’

The 2002 summer schedule will be a light one for Corey, who plans to play in the Tennessee Mid-Amateur, also to be played at Black Creek. Corey won the state mid-am in 1992. He will also try to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur and will play in the Chattanooga 4-Ball Match Play in August.

"A couple of other tournaments might pop up on my schedule, but my family and business obligations take precedence,’’ he said. "You have to travel a lot and play in a lot of tournaments to be real competitive, and I just don’t have time to do that.’’

Corey has won four Metro championships, two at Lookout Mountain, one at Creeks Bend and one at Moccasin Bend. He may have swing problems, but he knows what it takes to win.

"I don’t know if I can win the tournament,’’ he said. "Ask me that Saturday afternoon and I’ll answer it then.

"The swing change is difficult, so we’ll see. I’ve just got to trust it and see if it works under pressure. I just hope I’m in the low 8-10 after Saturday. Then we’ll see what happens.’’

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