By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
Josh Myrick opened defense of his title in sizzling fashion.
The 34-year-old Hattiesburg golfer scorched Greenwood Country Club with a 10-under-par 60 Friday in the first round of the GCC Invitational.
The former Southern Miss golfer had eight birdies, two eagles and two bogeys in his first 18 holes of the three-day tournament.
“I drove it pretty straight, which is key for the course, and was able to take advantage of the tee boxes being moved way up,” said Myrick, who the tournament last year with a total of score of 12-under-par.
“I feel pretty good about my position, but I am a little disappointed with a bogey on my final hole (the par-4 ninth).”
Sitting at 11 under for his round, Myrick was hoping for his first-ever round in the 50s, but he missed 15-foot birdie putts at holes 7 and 8 before getting in trouble off the tee on 9.
Even with an exceptional round, Myrick was only one shot ahead of 2016 GCC Invitational champ Josh Lampley, who played a bogey-free round with seven birdies and one eagle.
Lampley, of Gulfport, is a two-time Mississippi Mid-Amateur champion with wins in 2017 and 2015.
He started Friday with one of the hottest starts of the day with three birdies on his first four holes.
Myrick was two under before he caught fire, carding an eagle, birdie, birdie finish on his way to a 30.
Myrick is trying to become just the ninth golfer to win the GCC Invitational in back-to-back years in the tradition-rich, 72-year history of one of the state’s oldest stroke-play tournaments. The last to do so was Josh Oller in 2007 and 2008.
“There is a lot of work left to do for a repeat with Josh just one back. There are four or five golfers in this thing who can shoot 9- or 10-under at any point,” he said. “I just have to keep playing well and stay in the fairway.”
Justin Elliott of Hattiesburg started today four shots back of the leader after posting a 6-under 66 on Friday.
A group of four golfers (Austin Smithers of Hattiesburg, Richard Reed of Starkville, Billy Brozovich of Lake Village, Arkansas, and John Crawford Counts of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) were all tied for fourth place.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
