Birdies were in ample supply for Chris Wells on Saturday during the first round of the 79th Brainerd Invitational. The former LSU golfer managed to rattle home seven birdies with not a single bogey at Brainerd Golf Course to put himself in the solo lead after posting a 7-under 65.
Wells posted a 33 on his outward nine, then shot 32 on his homeward portion with birdies at 10, 13, 14 and 17.
Close behind and equally impressive was Keoni Vidrine, who also compiled a bogey-free round with a complement of six birdies to sit alone in 2nd at 6-under 66 in Championship Division play. Vidrine birdied three of his first four holes on the back to record a 32 on that side.
Drew Silman and Ryder Pierce are tied for 3rd at 4-under 68. Silman made the turn in 2-over, then blistered the final nine in 30 that included four birdies in a row to open his homeward side. Pierce avoided giving away any shots on his round, carding a trio of birdies on his front nine.
Brandon Cissom leads five players deadlocked in 5th place at 3-under 69, joining Wells with seven birdies on his round. However, Cissom surrendered four shots with a double bogey and two bogeys to offset four of those birdies. Others with rounds of 69 were Trent Mansfield, Alex Cobb, Ryan Cox and Taylor Lewis.
Defending champion Mike Dunn is among seven golfers five shots back at 2-under.
Rob Smith leads the Senior Division by one shot with an opening round 3-under 69. Smith was 2-over through six holes thanks to a double bogey on No. 3, but he was able to record five birdies with no more setbacks over his remaining holes to secure his advantage.
Matt Jenne and Jeff Cox settled into a tie for 2nd at 2-under 70, while Tim Eachus and Ronnie Siniard occupy 4th place at 1-under 71. Jim Lett, Michael Rhyne, Johnny Pierce and Tony Autry are in a 6th place crowd after posting rounds of even par 72.
With three flights (39 & Under, 40-54, and 55 & Over) competing from the blue tees and two flights playing the white tees (Senior and Super Senior), the overall low score from the blue tees will be deemed the Championship Division winner and the low performer from the white tees will be named Senior champion.
The various flight leaders are:
39 & Under – Vidrine (-6); Silman and Pierce (-4)
40-54 – Wells (-7); Cissom and Lewis (-3)
55 & Over – Steve Johnson (-2); Brent Henley and Jay Potter (-1)
Senior – Jenne and Cox (-2); Eachus and Siniard (-1)
Super Senior – Smith (-3); Lett, Rhyne and Autry (E)
For complete results, go to Brainerd Invitational.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com