It did plenty of both on Wednesday during the second round of the 49th Annual Tennessee Junior Amateur Championship at Black Creek Club in Chattanooga.
A steady drizzle at times and a certified downpour at others, the rain was unrelenting as 72 junior amateurs battled for a shot at taking home the title.
Walker Valley graduates Clark Melton and Corey Evans, and Polk County rising senior Evan Ball struggled through the daunting conditions and the stiff competition to keep their hopes alive.
Melton, a University of West Georgia signee, shot an even par in his opening round. Wednesday, he buckled down and despite the adverse conditions was able to shoot a 1-under 71 to go 1-under overall and grab a spot in a two-way tie for 11th place.
Starting on the back nine, Melton shot birdies on Nos. 11 and 15 and bogeyed Nos. 12, 13 and 16 to go into the turn a stroke over. But, birdies on Nos. 1, 4 and 6 and a single bogey on No. 7 helped him finish the round a stroke under par.
Evans, the other former Mustang and Young Harris College signee, had a tougher time with the course conditions, finishing his second round with a 3-over 75 to put him three shots over and tied for 28th going into the final round.
After shooting an even-par 72 in his opening round, Evans ran into some problems during Wednesday’s play. A birdie on No. 4 was quickly followed by bogeys on Nos. 5, 7 and 8 to put him two up at the turn.
On the back nine Evans birdied No. 14 but finished the round with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 to put him 3-over.
Ball’s struggles continued through his second round. After finishing 7-over on Tuesday, the course didn’t relent on the Polk County senior. At the end of the second round, Ball found himself at 16-over and tied for 63rd.
Starting on the back nine, Ball scored bogeys on holes 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18. For a second time during the tournament his scores were better after the turn, but by that point the damage had been done.
The tournament goes into its final round today and after suspended play Tuesday due to thunderstorms and constant rain Wednesday it’s anyones guess what the weather has in store for the young golfers.
At the end of the second round, Ben Reeves out of Knoxville sits atop the leaderboard at 9-under. Stuart Thomas of Knoxville currently holds second place at 7-under, and Mitchell Thomas, Jack Smith and Austin Kramer, all of Knoxville, sit tied for third at 5-under.
