As members of the Lee University men’s golf team, Tobias Buffam and Drew Zielinski know how to expertly navigate their way around their home track Cleveland Country Club. That local knowledge proved to be especially beneficial on Saturday during the opening round of this year’s Cleveland Invitational.
Buffam and Zielinski were among a quartet of golfers who posted scores of 5-under 67, joining area stalwarts Richard Spangler and Keoni Vidrine atop the leaderboard in the Open Division heading into Sunday’s final round of the Chattanooga District Golf Association’s second event of the season.
Buffam, a native of Canada who is completing his freshman year at Lee, shot 31 over his final nine that included birdies on his last two holes and an eagle at the par-5 10th to force his way into the four-man deadlock. Zielinski, a junior who hails from Ocean Springs, Miss., recorded an early bogey before reeling off six birdies and six pars over his final 12 holes to earn a share of the lead.
The veteran Spangler used an eagle at the 10th to jumpstart a back nine total of 31 to seal his round of 67, while Vidrine had assembled a flawless round of 6-under through 16 holes before bogeying the par-3 17th to return to the pack.
Lee freshman Samuel Johnson joins Cleveland CC member Josh Coley in a tie for fifth, sitting one shot off the lead after carding rounds of 4-under 68. A trio of host club members are two shots off the lead at 3-under 69 featuring Brent Copeland, Parker Gray and Hunter Vest.
In the Senior Division, Flagstone Golf Club and Falcon Pointe owner Gary Davis proved that his game travels well even beyond his own golf courses. Despite posting bogeys on two of his last three holes on Saturday, Davis still finished with a 2-under 70 to grab a one-shot lead entering the final round.
Lurking a single stroke behind Davis are Rick Mays, Jeff Cox and Joe Markham Jr. at 1-under 71, while defending champion Richard Keene is two off the lead after signing for an even par 72.
Kip Henley, Mike Poe, Jackie Whitmire and Tom Schreiner find themselves only three shots off the pace following rounds of 1-over 73 to open their tournament.
Richard Brame seeks to repeat as champion in the Super Senior Division following his round of 2-under 70, four shots clear of his closest contender. The Honors Course member overcame a shaky start to close strong with birdies on four of his last five holes.
Jim Dunn is alone in second at 2-over 74, while Jerry Burrell (3-over 75), Kent Taylor (4-over 76) and Bret Douglas (5-over 77) round out the top five.
Complete scores and tee times can be found at Cleveland Invitational scores.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com