Chattanooga's Ronnie Law (145)

Chattanooga's Pat Corey (148)

When Trey Lewis and partner Craig McElhaney plundered Black Creek for a pile of birdies in winning the Tennessee Four-Ball Championship last June, Lewis, who’s from Hendersonville, professed his love for the golf course.

Lewis’ feelings for Black Creek might run even deeper after the second round of the Tennessee Mid-Amateur Championship on Wednesday. Picking up right where he and McElhaney left off in June, Lewis racked up another boatload of birdies—eight in all—and shot a second-round seven-under-par 65, the low round of the tournament.

Coupled with his opening 70, Lewis’ great round lifted him to the second-round lead, at nine-under-par 135, one stroke ahead of defending champion Tim Jackson of Germantown who shot 68 on Wednesday.

Another stroke back is Packard DeWitt, the newly reinstated amateur from Collierville. DeWitt, tacked a 69 on to his opening 67.

Today’s final round promises to be a shootout—six other players are within striking distance of Lewis, including Chattanooga’s Richard Keene, who shot his second consecutive 70 on Wednesday. Other Chattanoogans who made the 36-hole cut are Tom Schreiner and Aon Miller, both of whom are at 144, and the father-son duo of Kevin and Ronnie Law. Kevin added a 71 to his opening 74, while his dad shot a 73 to go with his first-round 72.

Lewis, who’s fresh off a solid performance at last week’s U.S. Mid-Amatuer, where he advanced to the second round of match play, couldn’t get much going through five holes on Wednesday. After he left the par-four No. 5 hole at even for the day, Lewis knew some drastic action was needed.

"I was thinking I was in big trouble," Lewis said. "I just knew Tim [Jackson] and Danny [Green] were going to be under par, and I was just slipping more and more behind them."

Five holes and five birdies later, Lewis was back in the hunt. He started the barrage by sinking a downhill four-footer at the par-5 6^th hole for a birdie. Lewis then coaxed a 3-iron to within 12 feet at the par-3 No. 7 hole and drained that putt, made a five-footer for birdie at the par-four 8^th and drained an eight-footer for a closing birdie at No. 9.

Lewis picked up where he left off on the back nine, making a birdie at No. 10. He closed out his great round with consecutive birdies at 14 and 15, then offset a bogey at the par-3 17^th with a birdie at the closing par-5 18^th.

"I’ve played this golf course well," Lewis said. "I wouldn’t say I’m the best driver of the ball among the better players in this tournament, but I drive it pretty well. It’s important to be in good shape off the tee at Black Creek."

Lewis is just thankful to be playing after suffering a back injury not long after his Four-Ball win in June. The injury, eventually diagnosed as a bulging disc, kept him sidelined for two months.

"I could barely walk there for a while," Lewis said. "It was painful."

Lewis eventually sought the help of Rob Dyer, one of the Tennessee Titans’ team doctors, and Jeff Holt, a former Vanderbilt football player and strength and conditioning specialist. A regimen of weight training and stretching got Lewis back on the golf course.

"I was lucky enough to have made match play at the U.S. Mid-Amateur," Lewis said. "I just haven’t played much golf. Surprised isn’t the word for what I shot today. Frightened is the word."

DeWitt, who has burst onto the statewide scene after regaining his amateur status, wasn’t all that impressed with his 69, but he was pleased with his handiwork on Black Creek’s par-5s. He reached all three in two shots and played the four holes in five under par. That included eagles at No. 6 (after ramming in a 20-foot putt) and No. 18, which he reached with a 3-iron that left him a six-footer.

DeWitt also birdied No. 14, two-putting from about 18 feet. His only miscue on the par-5s came at No. 4, which he three-putted after reaching with a gutsy 3-wood over the mammoth bunker.

"It’s very important on the par-5s that you bring it in on the right side of the hole," DeWitt said. "You can get aggressive on this golf course, but if you’re in attack mode for all 18 holes, it’s gonna grab you. You’ve got to know when to be aggressive."

DeWitt learned the nuances of Black Creek in a hurry by playing a practice round with fellow West Tennessean Jimmy Darr, who was in contention in the Four Ball in June.

"It always pays to play a practice round with someone who has local knowledge," DeWitt said. "Jimmy walked me through the golf course and showed me where to hit it, and where not to hit it."

DeWitt, a veteran of the mini-tours, is hoping for a little tougher conditions in Thursday’s final round.

"I’d like to see the wind pick up some," DeWitt said. "That way, whoever strikes the ball best will win."