Caffey takes first-round lead
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Play in the 42nd annual Dixie Junior Invitational began Tuesday morning at the Selma Country Club.
Just the golfers in the 15- and 16-year-old and 17- and 18-year old brackets began play on Tuesday.
Roger Caffey in the 15-and 16-year-old bracket led all scoring with a round of 70.
Josh Gamble, of Prattville, is currently second in the division with a round of 72.
Justin Newman, Michael Frye and Willam Angel are all three strokes off the lead with a round of 73.
In the 17- and 18-year-old bracket, Jon Oswalt and Jordy Hayden are tied with a round of 72.
Brett Willis and John Barnett IV are two shots back with a 74.
Bart Barnes, John Randall and Nathan Villaume are three shots back of the lead.
The tournament is a family tradition for the Country Club’s pro, Tommy Burns.
His father, Bud Burns, began the tournament in 1961.
Tommy Burns began playing in the tournament when he was 11 and won it in 1968.
Burns said though the tournament format hasn’t changed in 42 years, other things have changed.
The open tournament has brackets for 10- and-under, 11- and 12-year-olds and 13- and 14-year-olds, as well as the older kids.
The 10- and-under crowd plays 18 holes over two days.
The 11-14 year-olds play 36 holes over two days.
The oldest two groups of players compete on 54 holes over three days.
Burns said he sends out forms to golf courses, public and private and the players just have to fill them out and send them back.
Though no girls are competing this year, they are welcome as well.
Tommorrow’s tee times begin with the youngest brackets at 8 a.m. in groups of four.
The 11- and 12-year-old bracket begins teeing off at 8:40 a.m.
The 13- and 14-year-olds have tee times from 9:00-9:50 a.m. The 15- and 16-year-old tee off from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The oldest bracket begins teeing off at 11:40 a.m.