The Columbus city golf tournament kicked off at Greenbelt Golf Course on Saturday, and the only two golfers who shot under par are tied for first place.
Tanner Bennett actually carded a 2-under-par 68 but signed off on a 69, so that became his official score. That allowed Coleman Glick to join him at the top of the leaderboard after also finishing with a 69.
Bennett, a former Columbus North golfer and current hockey player at Trine University, lead a field of 48 total golfers into today’s second round at Harrison Lake Country Club. The final round will be July 22 at Otter Creek.
Glick, a former North and Tusculum golfer who said he ended up with more bad shots than good, would have preferred to have posted a better first-round score.
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“You can always go back and say, ‘Oh I could have made that shot. I could have hit that one putt,'” Glick said. “That’s just golf. You can shoot 60 and say I should have shot a 58, that’s just how it goes.”
Eric Grider is two shots behind the leaders with a 1-over 71. Defending champion Ian Coffey is tied with Ryan Kistler for fourth at 2-over 72.
Grider said he played well, but he also felt he left some shots out there.
“I missed a couple three-footers, or else I would have been in the 60s,” Grider said. “So I’m a little disappointed with that, but solid round overall.”
Chase Simpson and Man Sung Jr. are tied for sixth place after both golfers posted a 73. Randy Rudzinski is eighth at 74, followed by Danny Holcomb, Austin Proffitt and Mike Stanley at 75.
Nathan VanDeventer, who is mostly known for his time spent on the North basketball and tennis courts, is tied with Columbus East graduates Derek Alexander and Thomas Ruch at 76.
VanDeventer said that his caddie, Spencer Fairbanks, had a lot to do with his first-round success. VanDeventer edged his cousin Luke VanDeventer, who will be a sophomore at North, by two strokes.
“(Fairbanks) gave me a lot of good pointers and stuff, so he was a big help today,” VanDeventer said. “I don’t play a whole lot, but I was actually very pleased with shooting a 76.”
Glick said the change of courses for each round causes for extra focus throughout the tournament.
“Playing three different courses, you really have to show up mentally each day,” Glick said. “You basically have to have a plan, and it helps being from here, too. I know Harrison better than I know (Greenbelt), and I know Otter better than I know Harrison.”
