Three-time champion Pat Corey took advantage of his short game and earned medalist honors with a 1-under 71 on Thursday in the opening round of the 2005 Chattanooga TPC at the Council Fire Golf Club.

Finishing at par 72 were Chris Treadway, Chase Deck and Matt Mathis.

Also making the 16-player match play, which begins Friday at 1:30 p.m., were Pete Webster (73), Tom Baird (73), Josh Coley (73), Greg Privette (74), Tom Schreiner (74), Thomas Smith (74), Tyson Elliott (74), Mike Jenkins (75), Jay Goza (75), Bryce Ledford (75), Randy Yoder (76) and John Lambert (76).

Corey won the TPC in 1993, ’95 and ’96.

“Can I do it again, well, we’ll find out,’’ said Corey, age 47. “I may have jinxed myself with being the medalist.’’

Corey made 15 pars, two birdies (13 and 14) and one bogey (5).

“Really, my 71 looked like an 83,’’ he said. “I just got it up-and-down and finally hit it pretty good a few times on the back. And I putted well, especially for a bunch of pars. What is so unusual is that my short game had been killing me.’’

TREADWAY, MATHIS, DECK AT 72: Treadway, age 36, is just starting to get his game back.

“This is my 19th round since October of 2004,’’ he said. “I got burnt out, plain and simple. I’m back, yeah, ready to start playing again. I’ve put on 30 pounds and I’m feeling really good.

“Today, I was playing on my home turf, and I had no high expectations. And I felt like I could make every putt I stood over.’’

Treadway had birdies on Nos. 2 and 7, and eagle on No. 13, bogeys on Nos. 12 and 15 and a double-bogey on No. 6.

“I just tried to forget all my habits and enjoy a round of golf,’’ he said.

Mathis, age 29, said his 72 looked like an 81.

“I hit it all over the place, but got it up-and down all day,’’ he said. “I haven’t chipped and putted like that since I was in college (UTC). I was pleasantly surprised.’’

Deck, a 23-year-old who graduated from Jacksonville State in April, said he likes the Council Fire course. He shot even-par 72 despite hitting a 25-yard tee shot on No. 1. He bogeyed the hole.

“My ball striking is not that good,’’ he said. “Really, my game is shaky. Today, I just tried to survive and make it to match play. Once in match play, I think I can win it. Why not?’’

WEBSTER SLIDES LATE: Pete Webster finished a 1-over 73, but was 1-under after 14 holes. He finished with bogeys at Nos. 15 and 18, missing the green left on 15 and hitting into the left hazard at 18.

“I’ve been hitting it as good as ever,’’ Webster said. “But my putting and wedging is better than ever. From 50 yards in, I’m a lot better now. That had been my downfall for years.’’

PRIVETTE FINISHES AT 74: Greg Privette was 1-under after 14, but had a double-bogey on No. 15.

“I had an eagle on No. 11 to go 1-under,’’ he said. “Then I got the double-bogey. I just wanted to get to tomorrow, so I laid up on 18. I knew 74 would be get there because the rough was really tough today. I knew 75 or better would get me to match play.’’

JENKINS ROARS INTO MATCH PLAY: Mike Jenkins shot a 41 on the front, but roared back with a 34 on the back with birdies at Nos. 10, 13, 15, 16 and 18.

“And I missed a couple of par putts on the back, but I’m not complaining,’’ Jenkins said. “I knew I had to play for birdie on every hole after shooting 41 on the front.’’

Jenkins made birdie putts of 12-feet (10), 3-feet (13), 15-feet (15), 20-feet (16) and 12-feet (18).

Thursday’s Scores

71—Pat Corey
72—Chris Treadway, Matt Mathis, Chase Deck
73—Pete Webster, Tom Baird, Josh Coley
74—Greg Privette, Tyson Elliott, Thomas Smith, Tom Schreiner
75—Jay Goza, Mike Jenkins, Bryce Ledford
76—John Lambert, Randy Yoder
77—Tripp Harris, Richard Keene
78—Derek Rende, Todd Moreland, Chuck Jabaley
81—Stewart Lawwill
82—John Leach, Jerod Baldwin
83—Jimmy Watkins, Tim Kane
84—Jay Potter, Mike Craig

Friday’s Match Play Pairings

1:30—Corey vs. Lambert; Schreiner vs. Smith
1:40—Treadway vs. Goza; Coley vs. Ledford
1:50—Mathis vs. Yoder; Webster vs. Privette
2:00—Deck vs. Jenkins; Baird vs. Elliott

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