Philip Guess Takes Red Bud Lead With 4-Under 67

While playing No. 17 in the Red Bud Invitational on Saturday, Philip Guess took time out to watch a hawk fly over.

"I was wondering what he was going to have for lunch,'' Guess said. "Hey, I'm having fun. You're not going to go around but once in this life.''

That relaxed attitude helped Guess shoot a 4-under 67 and take the first-round lead at the Valleybrook Golf and Country Club.

Going into Sunday's final round, Guess leads Andrew Black, Bryce Ledford, Adam Mitchell, Rick Hudson and Matt Mathis by two strokes. At 70 are Greg Johnson, Jay Goza, Jay Potter, Philip McCutchan, Tyson Elliott and Clifton Lowry.

"I've been a member here for 14 months, I've changed careers to the mortgage business, and I've got a better attitude,'' Guess said. "I'm having fun.''

Guess had a good year in 2002, but then struggled last golf season.

"I just have a lot of fun out here at Valleybrook,'' he said. "I'm not grinding or trying to make it a chore.

"I had no expectations of winning, but thought I'd shoot in the sub 70s. We played from the blue tees today, and that made it a little different. Hopefully, they'll move them back to what we're used to on Sunday.''

The 33-year-old Guess had birdies on Nos. 3, 4 and 17, an eagle on No. 11 and a bogey on No. 5. While many were struggling with the greens on Saturday, Guess was steady.

"These greens are the toughest in town,'' he said. "There isn't a flat one out there. You have to pay attention and putt defensively.''

Guess had several runner-up finishes in 2002, but hasn't won a tournament since 1991.

FORMER TEAMMATES AT 2-UNDER 69: UTC's Bryce Ledford and his former teammate at McCallie, Adam Mitchell, each shot a 2-under 69. Mitchell, who shot a 60 recently in a tournament in Memphis, will be a senior this year at McCallie.''

Ledford had three birdies, an eagle on No. 17 and three bogeys.

"My game feels good,'' said Ledford, who qualified this year for the Chattanooga Classic. "My swing feels good, but I'm not putting like I want to. My game feels OK.''

Ledford said he will play in the Brunswick (Ga.) Invitational in the near future and in the Southern Amateur at The Honors Course.

Mitchell had two birdies, an eagle on No. 17 and two bogeys.

"Both my bogeys came on the front,'' Mitchell said. "I played fine on the front, I just didn't score.

"I didn't even play a practice round here. But I talked to Bryce last night and he helped me with my clubbing. He told me what to hit on a lot of holes. I went by what he said 90 percent of the day. He plays conservative, and I did that today.''

BLACK, MATHIS FINISH AT 69: Andrew Black and Matt Mathis, playing in the same foursome with defending champion Ricky Honeycutt, each shot 2-under 69.

Black had birdies on Nos. 2, 5, 6, 11 and 17, but had a bogey on No. 7 and a double-bogey on No. 10.

"The greens are tough, oh yeah,'' Black said. "They are very, very tough. I had four putts on the double-bogey.

"But I hit the ball solid all day, kept it in play and was never out of a hole. I could have been lower, but the pins were tough. You can't get aggressive. I'm looking forward to Sunday, Hopefully, I'll putt better.''

Honeycutt was at 2-under after 17 holes, but double-bogeyed No. 18.

GOZA EARLY LEADER IN CLUBHOUSE: Jay Goza was the early leader in the clubhouse at 1-under 70. He made an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys, all on three-putts.

"I was getting it above the hole,'' Goza said. "I was on the wrong side all day. That's all it takes. The greens are good and will hold shots, but downhill is tough.''

RED BUD NOTEBOOK: Mike Jenkins and Richard Keene won the member-guest tournament last weekend at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club. Jenkins and Keene beat Pat Corey and Todd Moreland in 21 holes in the finals. Jenkins shot a 3-over 74 Saturday at Valleybrook. … Valleybrook member John Lambert, who has the ability to go very low on his home course, managed an even-par 70. "Three three-putts,'' he said. "The course is playing short, buy the greens are the defense out there today. … Randy Yoder had six three-putt greens in his round of 76. "It's unbelievable,'' he said. "Unless you're a member out here and know the grain, it's tough. You have to know these greens to putt them well.'' … Ronnie Law has had wrist surgery again and won't be able to play again until August. He was at Valleybrook on Saturday watching his son, Kevin, who shot a 75. … Sung Back has lost 60 pounds since last summer. "I'm just working out, running a lot and eating right,'' Back said. He isn't sure if he will go back to Jacksonville State in the fall.

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