Mr. Weddington, who sometimes prefers to be called H.G., walked onto the crowded, dew soaked teebox, waving to the players, friends and family that had gathered to see the 95-year-old champion tee off. Having made an appearance in over 59 State Amateur Championships, Weddington had no problem taking on the pressure of the people on the teeing ground. He calmly centered himself between the tee markers, placed his tee into the ground, stabilized his ball onto the tee, and stepped back to ready himself for the shot. As the crowd hushed in respect to golf etiquette, but moreso to the marvel of Mr. Weddington, H.G. looked down the fairway, then at his ball. With one inhale, Weddington pulled the club back and smoothly followed his swing into the ball, slamming it into the center of the fairway. The shot was followed with roars of applause and cheers. The 2012 State Amateur Championship was underway, and the opening round would not disappoint.

Williamson finished off his opening round with a 3-under 69 to take a two shot lead over the nearest competitors. Tallying seven birdies and six pars, Williamson consistently kept his score under par and worked his way to the top of the leaderboard. Sitting two strokes back, Jacob Ross, Grant Goforth, Alan Ellis and 2011 State Amateur Champion Clay Homan each shot 1-under 71 for the day, as the four players combined for seventeen individual hole scores under par. Father-son duo Stewart and Haynes Horsley both look on track to stay in the hunt for the Spec Wilson Trophy with rounds of 77 and 76, respectively. Williamson won the Mike Magee Trophy, which is awarded to the round one medalist.

With the weather continuing to cooperate, players are looking forward to round two in hopes that the course will again allow for red scores.

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