They birdied four of The Hill’s five par-3s and posted two eagles during the traditional scramble round.
It added up to a 14-under-par 56 and a three-shot lead over two teams going into today’s modified scramble final round at Cane Creek Golf Course.
The teams of Lewis Lecroy-Cole McNeal and Ott Chandler-Marcus Harrell both shot 59 to stand second and will be joining the leaders in today’s final group. Two other teams — Richard Turner-Chris Maye and Adrian Geeting-Frank Brady — are another shot back at 60.
The leaders birdied par-3s 2, 4, 7 and 16, while making eagles at the par-5 third and the par-4 13th. The only par-3 they didn’t birdie was No. 11.
“We talked about it before we played that we’ve got to birdie the par-3s out here; that’s like making an eagle,” Turley said. “That’s how we shot so low; everything else was so routine.”
They got it going right from the start, with Burgess making a 20-footer on No. 4. On the eagle at 13, Burgess hit his tee shot into the fringe 20 feet from the hole and made the putt after Turley showed him the line. On 3, Burgess hit a 9-iron to 10 feet and made the putt.
They played the front nine in 9-under 26. The only hole on the side they didn’t birdie or eagle was the par-4 sixth.
Both of the teams at 59 shot 29-30. Chandler and Harrell made an eagle on No. 1, but bogeyed No. 4. Both of the teams at 60 shot 29-31.
Jason Johnson scored a hole-in-one in the round, acing the 110-yard 16th. He and partner Clay Calkins shot 64 and share the Second Flight lead with Janson Wilborn-Richie Nabors and T.J. McGatha-David Martin.
“We were on 5 green when he did that,” Turley said. “We could see him going crazy. We didn’t see the shot, but we saw his reaction.”
Buddy Butterworth and Bo Reeves lead the Third Flight, while Billy Friar and Kelly Rogers lead the Fourth Flight. The four flight winners will advance to a net playoff to recognize an overall winner at the conclusion of the day’s play.
Al Muskewitz covers golf for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3577.
