Drew Day
Despite a light rain that softened the greens at Greenbelt Golf Course through the early part of Saturday’s first round of the city golf tournament, only one of the 55 players was able to break par.
Drew Day fired a 1-under 71 to take the lead at the midway point. The final round will be this afternoon at Otter Creek.
“I played pretty well,” Day said. “I hit it really well and got some putts to go in on the back nine. I finished strong and battled the weather. It got pretty soft there. You could definitely kind of throw it where you wanted and get it to stop quick.”
The 2011 Columbus East graduate who went on to play at Bethel College is seeking his first city championship.
Day shot 37 on his first nine before closing with a 34 the second time around Greenbelt’s 9-hole layout. He had one birdie and two bogeys on the front and three birdies and one bogey on the back.
“I definitely played better on the back,” Day said. “I got a little more comfortable on the greens, and that definitely paid off. I think I’m in pretty good position heading into (today).”
Day has a one-shot lead over East graduate Eric Grider, who shot even-par 72. Former Indiana University golfer and former Timbergate pro Kyle Wieneke and former Columbus North and Tusculum golfer Coleman Glick are two shots back at 73.
Glick, a three-time city champion, is playing in the city tournament for the first time since his last city title in 2018. He shot 38 on the first nine and 35 on the back.
“It could have been a lot better,” Glick said. “Conditions were not the worst, but not the best. All four of us (in his group) kind of struggled. It wasn’t downpouring, so we definitely could have played better.”
Derek Alexander and Danny Holcomb are tied for fifth at 74; and Nate VanDeventer, Brian Jones and Ross Pushor are at 75. Luke VanDeventer, a North graduate who will be a sophomore golfer at Vincennes University, is 10th at 76.
“Drew is going to be tough to beat,” said Glick, who is the same age as Day. “He’s been playing that (Otter Creek) course since he was a freshman in high school.”
Jim Turner leads the senior division with a 78. Rick Peterson is five shots back at 83.
Veronica Burton is the leader in the women’s tournament following an 81. Carolyn Dailey is second at 92.
Saturday’s first-round scores:
Drew Day;71
Eric Grider;72
Kyle Wieneke;73
Coleman Glick;73
Derek Alexander;74
Danny Holcomb;74
Nate VanDeventer;75
Brian Jones;75
Ross Pushor;75
Luke VanDeventer;76
Heath Harrison;77
John Ferguson;77
Tanner Bennett;77
Will Mayhew;77
Carter Greene;78
Alex Bays;78
Tom LaBarbera;79
John Merritt;79
Jeremy Newland;80
Avery Foist;80
Jacob Niedbalski;81
Jack Schiavello;81
Jamall Starks;83
Mark Mayhew;83
Tom Smith;83
Matt Bollanger;84
Ed Hopkins;85
Geoff Hannen;85
Greg Hundley;85
Walker Thomas;86
Steve Todd;86
Cam Wischmeyer;87
Brett Bollanger 88
Jeff Caldwell;90
Parker Saddler;92
Matt White;93
Chris Parker;WD
Senior Division
Jim Turner;78
Rick Peterson;83
Don Davidson;90
Jim Smith;90
Ron Dinn;91
Ed Settle;92
Gary Bundura;92
Jerry Duncan;94
Greg King;94
Mark Neafus;94
Bob Pearson;96
Steve Chinn;97
