The drizzly conditions that lingered throughout Friday at the opening round of the Signal Mountain Men’s Invitational did little to dampen the hot streak Andrew Weathers has enjoyed of late.
Weathers, won recently won the Nob North Invitational in a playoff, opened with four straight birdies after starting on the tenth hole enroute to a score of 6-under 65 to hold a two-shot lead in the Championship Flight.
The former McCallie School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout tallied three more consecutive birdies on his final nine, finishing the impressive round with ten birdies.
Hot starts from Ryan Terry and Jack Morris led to rounds of 4-under 67 to find themselves in second place. Both golfers birdied four of their first five holes, but shot level par over the balance of their round.
Defending champion Thad Whitfield is four strokes off the lead of the 54-hole event at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club, tied for fourth at 2-under 69 with Cody Godfrey.
Six other golfers are at 1-under on the par 71 course playing at 6,148 yards.
Steve Johnson was the first-round pacesetter in the Senior Flight, parlaying a trio of birdies against three bogeys to shoot an even par 71.
Bob Rice sits in second place after a 2-over 73, while Frank Hollowell and Shonn Weldon are tied for third following opening rounds of 4-over 75.
For complete results and tee times, go to Signal Mtn Invitational Results
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com