E.A. Sports Today

Tight at the top

[corner-ad id=2]Eagle makes difference in Tanner-Stanley’s lead in James Jackson Memorial; Lindsey leads flight in GC Am Tour

Jake Minnix rips a drive in the opening round of James Jackson Memorial at Cherokee County CC.

Jake Minnix rips a drive in the opening round of James Jackson Memorial at Cherokee County CC.

By East Alabama Sports Today

CENTRE – Corey Tanner and John Stanley opened with four straight birdies and five straight 3s on the way to a 15-under-par 56 Saturday that gave them the opening-round lead in the James E. Jackson Memorial at Cherokee County Country Club.

They hold a one-shot lead over Jeremy McGatha and Matt Rogers. Two others – Wayne and Dawson Garrett and Bo and Pat Abney – were at 59.

The difference in the lead is the eagle Tanner and Stanley made on the par-5 16th during a five-hole stretch in the middle of the back nine where they went 6-under. They had 13 birdies and an eagle.

McGatha and Rogers made 14 birdies, including each of their last five holes. The Garretts played their last five holes in 6-under.

Shawn and Gray Weldon had three eagles on the back nine (10, 14 and 16), but closed with two pars and shot 61.

The event moves to LaFayette (Ga.) Golf Course Sunday.

LINDSEY LEADS FLIGHT: Oxford’s John Lindsey shot 87 Saturday at Burnt Pine GC in Sandestin and grabbed a three-shot lead in the Snead Flight of the Emerald Coast Amateur, a major on the Golf Channel Am Tour.

Lindsey already has qualified for the Am Tour national championship at PGA West in September. He hasn’t finished lower than third in any of the previous seven Tour events he’s played and has wins at Greystone (Founders), Capitol Hill (Senator) and Hampton Cove (Highlands).

Oxford’s Lance Evans also has qualified and will be playing in the national championship for the second time in three years. Lindsey caddied for him the last time, now he’ll be playing.

“It’s a little easier going back the second time because at least I know a little about all the courses and know what to expect,” Evans said. “This year instead of me having a caddy, I’ll be pulling for him as well.

“He has improved a bunch this year. He’s only played for about two years and he’s about a 16 handicap.”

The Emerald Coast event wraps at The Raven Sunday.

JAMES E. JACKSON MEMORIAL
First-round results

At Cherokee County CC

Championship flight
Corey Tanner-John Stanley 28-28—56
Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers 28-29—57
Wayne Garrett-Dawson Garrett 31-28—59
Bo Abney-Pat Abney 28-31—59
Shawn Weldon-Gray Weldon 32-29—61
Billy Mack-Caden Garrett 30-31—61
Dawson Day-Ben Huggin 33-29—62
Allen Keen-Stephen Keen 30-32—62

First flight
Kenny Fulmer-Jeff Noah 32-31—63
Ernie Brabner-Levi Nix 32-31—63
Keith Atkinson-Tim Trammell 33-31—64
Josh Jackson-PJ Shields 32-32—64
Johnny Bentley-Tim Gamble 30-34—64
Sid Garrett-Terry Tallent 32-32—64
Scott Hays-Jake Minnix 31-33—64
Scotty Grimes-TJ McGatha 31-33—64
Daryl Wise-Kenrick King 29-35—64
Justin Austin-Keith Harmon 34-30—64

Second flight
Rodney Van Pelt-Jeff Woodall 32-36—68
Scott Farrar-Tommy Collins 32-37—69
Kevin Bedwell-Will Bedwell 36-33—69
Tyler Jackson-Chris Jackson 35-36—71
Scotty McFry-Jeremy Braizer 36-37—73
Steve Baker-Phillip Hicks 36-37—73

Sunday’s pairings
At LaFayette (Ga.) Golf Course

(All times Central)

9:00 a.m. — Phillip Hicks-Steve Baker; Scotty McFry-Jeremy Brazier
9:10 — Chris Jackson-Taylor Jackson; Kevin Bedwell-Will Bedwell
9:10 — Rodney Van Pelt-Jeff Woodall; Scott Farrar-Tommy Collins
9:40 — Daryl Wise-Kendrick King; Justin Austin-Keith Harmon
9:50 — Jake Minnix-Scott Hays; Keith Atkinson-Tim Trammell
10:00 — Johnny Bently-Tim Gamble; Scotty Grimes-TJ McGatha
10:10 — Josh Jackson-PJ Shields; Sid Garrett-Terry Tallent
10:20 — Kenny Fulmer-Jeff Noah; Ernie Brabner-Levi Nix
10:30 — Dawson Day-Ben Huggins; Allen Keen-Stephen Keen
10:40 — Shawn Weldon-Gray Weldon; Billy Mack Garrett-Caden Garrett
10:50 — Wayne Garrett-Dawson Garrett; Bo Abney-Pat Abney
11:00 — Corey Tanner-John Stanley; Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers

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