Logjam at Farm Bureau
Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 22, 2001
It’s anybody’s tournament after the second round of the 2001 Farm Bureau Invitational Saturday at Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club as two golfers are tied for the lead, another is just one shot back and three others are only two back of the lead.
The story of the second round was that good scores were hard to come by.
How hard? A total of 14 golfers finished at 1-under-par 71 or better.
And, oddly enough, one of those golfers who did not finish with an under-par round was first-round leader David Lee, PGA professional at Windance Country Club at Gulfport.
After shooting a course-record 7-under-par 65 on Friday, Lee had an even-par 72 on Saturday for a two-day score of 137.
&uot;I had it at 4-under through 10, then I had a bunch of bogeys,&uot; he said. &uot;I hit the ball as good as I did yesterday through the first 10 holes. Then I missed a few greens and couldn’t get up and down.&uot;
Tied for the lead going into Sunday’s final round is former two-time champion and amateur Rett Crowder of the Country Club of Jackson, who had a solid round of 4-under-par 68 on Saturday after shooting an equally impressive 69 on Friday.
&uot;I played good,&uot; Crowder said. &uot;I hit 16 greens. Overall, I’m pleased. I gave myself a lot of chances.&uot;
&uot;It’s going to be exciting playing with Rett and whoever else,&uot; Lee said. &uot;I’ve never played with him before.&uot;
Crowder had four birdies, an eagle on the 18th hole and two bogeys in his round. He said to win the tournament he needs to shoot 6- or 7-under on Sunday.
One shot behind the leaders is amateur and Ole Miss assistant golf coach Haymes Snedeker, who, despite a rough start, had a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday after firing a 71 on Friday.
&uot;I bogeyed two of the first six holes then settled down and made some putts,&uot; said Snedeker, who had five birdies and an eagle on the ninth hole during his round. &uot;All in all it was a good round. I was pleased.&uot;
Another golfer who had a solid round of golf was amateur Jay Lessley of Beau Pr\u00E9, who had a 67 on Saturday for a two-day score of 139.
As to what he thought was the difference was between Saturday’s round and Friday’s, when he had a 72, Lessley said, &uot;I made some putts today. And I hit it a little closer (to the hole) today.&uot;
Lessley’s round included six birdies and one bogey. After a bogey on the 14th hole, he answered with birdies on 15, 16 and 18.
&uot;It was a strong finish,&uot; he said. &uot;I hit my irons solid, and I putted better today. I think I’ll have to shoot about the same score tomorrow to have a chance to win.&uot;
Joining Lessley in a tie for fourth place at 139 after the second round were Jeff Jennings, golf pro at Pine Burr Country Club in Wiggins (69-70) and amateur Jonathan Dismuke of Pine Hills Country Club in Calhoun City (68-71).
Yet another golfer who had a 67 on Saturday was Mathew McNeil, golf pro at Cottonwood Golf Course in Tunica.
McNeil said the key to his round on Saturday was an eagle on the eighth hole and playing the last 11 holes at 6-under-par.
&uot;I hit a lot of good shots today,&uot; he said. &uot;I didn’t score well yesterday (Friday – 3-over-par 75). I hit a lot of ball close today. I had four or five tap-in birdies.&uot;
The trophy presentation will take place minutes after completion of the final round, at approximately 7 p.m.