Clinton’s Williams in first at Big I after 4-under par

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 30, 2004

NATCHEZ &045; Despite the recent stretch of bad weather that has hit the Miss-Lou in recent weeks, day one of the 2004 Independent Insurance Agents &uot;Big I&uot; Junior Classic went on as scheduled.

And 17-year-old Sonny Williams of Clinton couldn’t have played Beau Pr Country Club’s golf course any better Monday as he shot a opening-round 4-under-par 68 to take the lead in the boys 16-18 age group.

&uot;I was hitting the ball good all day,&uot; Williams said. &uot;I didn’t see any problems with (the course). I was actually surprised with all the rain.&uot;

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But the way he played his first six holes, a 68 looked to be out of reach.

After opening with four straight pars, Williams bogeyed No. 5, but birdied No. 6 to get back to even par. However, another bogey, this time on the par-3 7th hole, sent him back to 1-over.

Then Williams got hot, birdieing four of the next five holes to get to 3-under. He finished with birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 to go with a bogey on No. 16.

&uot;I had two three-putts,&uot; Williams said. &uot;Just small mental errors.&uot;

Seventeen-year-old Matt Burrow of Jackson was the clubhouse leader for much of the first round and is currently in second afer a solid round of 3-under 69.

&uot;I had four birdies and a bogey,&uot; Burrow said. &uot;I only missed two greens. I like the course. The holes are well-designed.

Burrow birdied Nos. 5, 8 and 13 before getting a bogey on No. 15. He got that shot back with a birdie on No. 18.

As for playing in the same group with 16-year-old Adam Doleac of Hattiesburg, who is in third place after a first-round 1-under 71, Burrow said, &uot;It was fun playing with him, with both of us playing well. We both had a good time.&uot;

&uot;Me and Matt are real good friends,&uot; Doleac said. &uot;I enjoy playing with him. He’s a real good player.&uot;

As for his opening round, Doleac said, &uot;It was real up and down. I got to 2-over on the front side. I shot 3-under on the back side. Just a couple of bad holes (on the front nine). I didn’t make worse than bogey.&uot;

Doleac finished his round with five birdies and four bogeys, which he described as &uot;real consistent.&uot;

&uot;I’ll probably have to have a 69 to give myself a chance,&uot; Doleac noted. &uot;Sonny and Matt are real good players.&uot;

Sixteen-year-old Mary Kate Byrne of Natchez, the only girl competing in the 16-18 age group, shot an opening-round 93.

&uot;I missed a lot of putts,&uot; Byrne said. &uot;I was hoping to do better. I just wish I would’ve done better. I’ve been working on my swing a lot lately.&uot;

In the 14-15 age group, 15-year-old Freddie Janneck of Madison fired an even-par 72 to take the first-round lead.

&uot;I played pretty well, but I bogeyed 18 and missed a lot of other birdie putts,&uot; Janneck said. &uot;But all in all, not bad. It could’ve been a lot better. But I’m happy with it.&uot;

Fifteen-year-old Warren Hood of Wesson is one shot back after firing a 1-over 73.

&uot;I played alright,&uot; Hood said. &uot;I had four birdies. I had three three-putts.&uot;

Fifteen-year-old Jordan