Ryan Terry, left, celebrates his hole-in-one on the second hole of the Tennessee State Open
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
It would be hard for Ryan Terry to imagine a better start to his showing in Wednesday’s opening round of the 76th Tennessee State Open Championship.
The Brentwood resident had bookend birdies on holes 1 and 3 that sandwiched a hole-in-one on No. 2 to move to 4-under through three holes, eventually closing with a 6-under 65 to share the first day lead with Spencer Cross of Sevierville.
Terry’s ace found the cup on the 218-yard par-3 hole as he finished his jaunt around Grassland Club’s Foxland Course with five birdies and a lone bogey.
Cross completed his round with seven birdies – including three straight beginning at No. 7 – while surrendering only a single bogey to pull even with Terry.
Knoxville’s Jake Hall and Brentwood amateur Campbell Sciortino are tied for third one shot back after signing for rounds of 5-under 66. Sciortino reeled off four consecutive birdies to highlight his round, while Hall played a three-hole stretch in 4-under that featured an eagle at the par-5 7th hole.
Five golfers are tied for 5th at 4-under 67, including 2016 State Open champion Jason Millard of Murfreesboro. Others deadlocked with Millard are Gallatin’s Michael Barnard, Franklin’s Harrison Ott, and the Nashville duo of Kymer Li and Toby Bishop.
A total of 29 golfers were under par on the day including former champions Brad Hawkins and Nolan Ray at 2-under 69 along with Hunter Wolcott at 1-under 70.
The field will be cut to the low 60 scores plus ties following Thursday’s round leading into Friday’s finale.
For complete results, go to Tennessee State Open.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Spencer Cross is the co-leader after the first day of the Tennessee State Open
photo by Tennessee Golf Association