UTC's Ferguson Takes Bear Trace Lead With 3-Under 69

UTC assistant golf coach Mark Guhne suggested that one of his golfers, junior Gary Ferguson, play in some of the summer's local amateur tournaments.

Ferguson, just back in town after spending the last six weeks at his home in Zimbabwe, did just that.

And with Guhne watching, Ferguson not only played in the Bear Trace Invitational on Saturday, but took the first-round lead with a 3-under 69.

It will be an all UTC affair in the final group Sunday morning, as Ferguson leads teammates Thomas Smith (71) and Bryce Ledford (72). Also in the group will be Soddy-Daisy senior Tripp Harris (71), who plans to commit to the Mocs in the near future.

"I practiced a lot at home and played in a few tournaments,'' said Ferguson, who will be a junior this fall. "This is my first amateur tournament in the states.

"I just feel a lot more relaxed and I'm settling into my game. I'm really starting to play better.

Ferguson made bogeys on Nos. 2, 4 and 16 and had birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 6. His best hole of the day came at No. 17 when he hit driver, 7-iron and made a 5-foot eagle putt.

"I've been working on my short game a bit and I'm getting my driver in play,'' Ferguson said. "I'm giving myself a lot more opportunities to make birdies.

"I've played this course a lot with UTC and I've always liked it. You have to hit your driver well here to score and I'm doing that right now.''

HARRIS EARLY LEADER IN CLUB HOUSE: Soddy-Daisy's Tripp Harris, who will be a senior this fall, was the early leader in the clubhouse at 1-under 71.

After a slow start, Harris changed his grip and played the last 15 holes at 4-under. He bogeyed No. 1 and then double-bogeyed No. 3.

"I normally don't change things during a round, but it was going so bad I did today,'' said Harris. "It couldn't get any worse.

"I was just uncomfortable at the start, but then I changed the grip and started playing better. I'm really playing good right now. My last 10 rounds have been even or under par.''

Harris, who said he will probably commit to UTC in the near future, also had a bogey on No. 13. He made birdies on Nos. 7, 10, 12, 17 and 18.

LEDFORD NOT PLEASED: It has been a good summer for UTC's Bryce Ledford, but he was unhappy with his even-par 72 Saturday.

Ledford, who won the Red Bud Invitational and the Don Malarkey Invitational, made a bogey on No. 1 and a double-bogey on No. 5.

"My driver got me in trouble early, but I finally got it straightened out on the back,'' Ledford said.

Ledford also had a bogey on No. 16, but made birdies on Nos. 10, 12, 15 and 17.

"I hope I can keep that going tomorrow,'' Ledford said.

RENDE SURVIVES DESPITE TRIPLE-BOGEY 8: Soddy-Daisy junior Derek Rende hit a snap hook with his driver on No. 8 and made a double-bogey 8. He still finished at 1-over 73.

"I didn't hit driver again the rest of the day after No. 8,'' Rende said. "I just started using that driver this week. I'll be changing that. I hit a 3-wood all day after the triple.''

Rende had birdies on Nos. 4, 10 and 17.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)