Recent Mississippi State graduate Ben Follet-Smith is leading the way
(Mississippi State Athletics Photo)
CHATTANOOGA, TN (July 25, 2017) - Recent Mississippi State graduate
Benjamin Follett-Smith shot a second consecutive 66 to get to 12 under and build his lead to four shots at the halfway mark of the Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational at Council Fire Golf Course.
Follett-Smith shot the low round of the day for the second-straight round and now has 15 birdies in the 36 holes he has played.
Entering the day, Follett-Smith had a one-shot lead over three players: Brayden Garrison of the University of Tennessee, and fellow Mississippi State Bulldogs Blake Maum and Goodman Rudolph.
Of the chasers, only Garrison stayed within shouting distance of the lead, recording a three-under 69 to sit solo second at 8-under 136.
Maum shot an even-par 72 and is tied for third with Nolan Ray (Tennessee) at 5-under 139, seven shots back. Rudolph fell out of contention with a 76.
Mikey Feher (Lipscomb) and Austin Fulton (Mississippi State commit) share fifth place at 4-under 140
39 players will advance to play the final two rounds, with the cut falling at three-over 147.
DAY 1 RECAP
Day one of the Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational is in the books and following a 6-under 66 Benjamin Follett-Smith is leading the way.
Playing at Council Fire Golf Club the recent Mississippi State graduate birdied eight-times on day one while bogeying just twice and he will carry a one shot lead into the second round over the 5-under second place trio of Brayden Garrison (Tennessee), Blake Maum and Goodman Rudolph (Mississippi State).
On the front nine Follett-Smith birdied the 2nd, 5th and 7th holes and bogeyed Nos. 3 and 9 before really finding that next gear on the second nine.
1-under after nine holes Follett-Smith put together a flawless back nine with birdies falling on Nos. 10, 11, 13, 14 and 18.
The top-five is currently rounded out by Beau Briggs (Ole Miss), Jacob Eklund (Kansas State) and Eddie Wajda III (Wisconsin) who share fifth at 4-under.
ABOUT THE Chattanooga Choo Choo
54-hole stroke play national invitational with a 90-
player field and no cut. An 18 hole open qualifier is
held
prior to
the
event for non-exempt players.
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