By TIM GUERCIO

THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT

NATCHEZ — Chase Kaiser left Natchez on May 23 headed for Athens, Georgia, and he is still on the road today playing on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour.

Kaiser 16, turned in rounds of 77 and 75 at the event on May 24-25 at the 6,825 yard, par 71 University of Georgia golf course designed by famed architect Robert Trent Jones.

The score of 152 put Kaiser in 31st place in a field of 103 players aged 14-19.

Kaiser said he was able to get in one practice round on the course.

“The course was very hilly,” Kaiser said. “I played a practice round and was able to dial in my yardages. This was my first time playing a golf course like that. The greens were very undulating and quick.”

Kaiser said he hit the driver really well but couldn’t get the putter going on the greens.

Kaiser said the course included several blind tee shots and some severe uphill approach shots to execute.

“You have to be very specific on where to hit your shots,” Kaiser said. “I had it 1 under the second day with five holes left and shot 75.”

The next tournament stop was Montgomery, Alabama, and Montgomery Country Club on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kaiser fired rounds of 76 and 73 on the 6,400-yard par 70 golf-course.

That score was good enough to finish 16th in a field of 64 players.

“I hit the driver bad and had to start hitting 3 wood off the tee,” Kaiser said. “I had to scramble and get it up and down a lot. I finally got it going the second day on the back nine. I birdied 11, 12 and 14 and shot 34.”

Kaiser’s next tournament is Saturday and Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at Greenville Country Club.

Kaiser’s father, Hayden Kasier, is doing the driving from one stop to the next on Chase’s summer circuit.