Golf notes: Burgess, Ellison contending

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: September 13, 2014

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

The good fortune Anniston amateur Jaylon Ellison found on the final hole of his practice round the day before carried over into the first round of competition Saturday and has him just behind the leaders in the Golden Nugget Emerald Coast Tour Championship.

Ellison, who made a rare double eagle on 18 in his practice round Friday, shot 7-under-par 65 at Mississippi National Golf Club in Gautier, Miss. He’s one shot behind the three pros who lead the field.

Anniston’s Garrett Burgess, Golf Channel Big Break participant Jimmy Brandt and PGA Tour player Glen Day all shot 64 to share the 18-hole lead.

Ellison’s round included eight birdies and a three-putt bogey from five feet on 15. After that, however, he birdied 16, 17 and 18 to close.

“I hit the ball great and made two really good up-and-downs for par,” he said. “My only mistake was the three-putt; I got a little aggressive and missed it coming back. But I hit it real well, made a few putts and played a stress-free round.”

Burgess’ round was bogey-free. He hit 16 greens in regulation, missing two of the par-3s.

The tournament concludes Monday. The next day, Ellison is scheduled to play top-seeded Gary Wigington at Cane Creek in the semifinals of the Calhoun County Match Play Championship.

“It’s another day to try to get out there and compete,” Ellison said. “Twig has a proven track record; it’s evident how strong a player he is. I know my hands are fully. I’m going to give him all I have and hopefully I can play well.”

HIGHWAY HIGHLIGHT: Cory Etter and Trevor Lane used their intimate knowledge of Pine Hill Country Club to shoot 18-under-par 54 and grab the first-round lead of the Highway 9 Challenge.

They hold a two-shot lead over Ott and Dalton Chandler. Josh Poole and Tony Hicks are another shot back.

Etter and Lane had 14 birdies and eagles on 10 and 17. On 10, Etter hit driver to six feet and on 17 he hit a 4-wood to two feet; Lane made both putts. The Chandlers parred 10, then played the last eight holes in 9-under to keep pace.

The event moves to Cherokee County Country Club in Centre Sunday.

Highway 9 Challenge
Saturday at Pine Hill CC

Championship flight
Cory Etter-Trevor Lane 54
Ott Chandler-Dalton Chandler 56
Josh Poole-Tony Hicks 57
Dana Wright-Mike Williams 58
Benji Turley-Eric Cannington 58
Lee-Watkins 59
Jon Bailey-Ricky Hairston 60
Jeremy McGatha-Matt Rogers 61
Kenny Fulmer-Blake Fulmer 61
Dennis Austin-Horace Rosamond 61
Graham Morrow-Caleb Bowen 61
Casey McGinnis-Brady Garrett 61

First Flight
Lewis-Eric Lewis 63
Bo Abney-Pat Abney 64
Caden Garrett-David Garrett 64
Johnny Bentley-Rodney Van Pelt 64
Jake Minnix-Lee Morgan 65
Clark Gable-Austin Raleigh 65
Doss-Turner 65
Tim Fulmer-Christian Fulda 66
Renae Coley-Larry Ballenger 66
Wayne Boyd-Grady Sapp 66
Scotty Grimes-Jay Wilson 66
Robin Wood-Trap Wheeler 66

Second Flight
David Martin-TJ McGatha 67
Ricky Young-Stan McCarley 67
Tyson-Hollingsworth 67
Coffee-Stewart 68
David Stephens-Eddie Cofield 69
Heath Waldrop-Justin Bates 69
Steve Borrelli-Ray Stover 69
Roszell-Roszell 71
Scott Hays-Joe Hays 71
Hopper-Pike 75

Sunday’s pairings
At Cherokee County CC

Hole 1 – Etter-Lane, Chandler-Chandler
18 – Poole-Hicks, Williams-Wright
17 – Turley-Cannington, Lee-Watkins
16 – Bailey-Hairston, McGatha-Rogers
15 – Austin-Rosamond, Fulmer-Fulmer
14 – Lewis-Lewis, McGinnis-Garrett
13 – Abney-Abney, Garrett-Garrett
12 – Minnix-Morgan, Bentley-RVP
11 – Gable-Raleigh, Doss-Turner
10 – Fulmer-Fulda, Boyd-Sapp
9 – Grimes-Wilson, Coley-Ballenger
8 – Wood-Wheeler, Martin-McGatha
7 – Young-McCarley, Tyson-Hollingsworth
6 – Stephens-Coefield, Coffee-Stewart
5 – Borelli-Stover, Waldrop-Bates
4 – Hays-Hays, Roszell-Roszell
3 – Hopper-Pike