On the verge

FORD CITY - The Shoals Christian golf team spent the morning at a local restaurant eating breakfast and playing checkers, trying not to fret over the first round of the AHSAA Class 1A-2A state golf tournament.

Bellies full and stress-free, the Flame went out and blew away the competition in the first round of Monday. Shoals Christian shot a season-low 295 on the Schoolmaster course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at the Shoals, and is in position to claim its first state title.

Ben Wood and Michael Peter each shot 1-under 71 as the Flame opened a 13-shot lead on Bayside Academy. The next best score came from defending state champion Houston Academy at 325.

"We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and just kind of relaxed," coach Jeff Quillen said. "They played checkers and had a good time."

Wood, an eighth-grader, said he easily was the best at checkers.

"I beat John Charles (Crow) really bad," he said.

Peter, another eighth-grader, said he skipped checkers, instead choosing to bargain shop for bubble gum in the restaurant's gift shop.

Playing late in the day, the Flame beat their best previous score by five shots as Trent Alexander shot 76 and Chandler Russ shot 78.

About the only downer for the Flame was Crow, who gutted out an 83 after suffering what appeared to be an allergic reaction on the course. By the time the round finished, Crow's eyes were nearly swollen shut. He quickly left the course for treatment.

"I'm not sure what happened," Quillen said. "I think it is a reaction to something. Hopefully, he can get a shot and be OK for (the second round). We don't want to play short-handed."

Peter and Wood are tied for second place in the individual standings, one shot behind White Plains' Jaren Humphrey.

Red Bay, also playing in the 1A-2A division, shot 345 and is in sixth place. Grant Fancher led the Tigers with a 75.

Mason Rodgers shot the only sub-par round in Class 4A with a 71, helping Boaz to an eight-shot lead over Brooks.

Rodgers carries a two-stroke lead over Brooks' Spencer Pace (73) into today's final round, with Haleyville's Patrick Brown (74) three shots back.

Central's Garrett Mayfield, playing as an individual, is at 75, with Brooks' Deane Rikard another shot back after shooting 76.

Brooks coach Stephen Phillips said he believes his team still has a chance to overtake Boaz.

"It's going to be tough," Phillips said. "Boaz has got a good team. We played pretty good. We're where we wanted to be. We wanted to be in the last five groups."

Pace made four birdies, but also played the last three holes 2-over to finish his 73.

Pace said he thinks the deficit is not too large to overcome.

"I think we can make up eight shots - it's only two shots apiece," he said. "We know we can do it."

Mayfield could have been closer to the lead, but made a double bogey on No. 17, a 485-yard par 5.

"I had some momentum going until I made one bad swing," Mayfield said.

The swing in question was a hook off the tee that left the Central sophomore in knee-high grass. It took him two shots to get out on the way to making a 7. The par 5s were not kind to Mayfield all day as he played them in 4-over-par.

Mayfield said he still can win the individual title.

"It's fine," he said. "If I just get off to a better start, I should be able to shoot under par."

Haleyville shot 335 and is in sixth place despite a 74 by Patrick Brown.

Florence's David Zickler appeared to be on his way to leading the 6A portion of the event, firing a 3-under 33 on the front nine of Fighting Joe. Two bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine left him with a 73 and not feeling very good about his score.

"I just did not play well on the back nine at all," he said. "It was definitely disappointing, especially when you come out here with expectations of shooting something low."

Zickler is in a four-way tie for second, four shots behind Mountain Brook's Tom Lovelady, who shot 69.

Gregg Dewalt can be reached at 740-5748 or gregg.dewalt@timesdaily.com.