By By Stan Caldwell / Special to The Star
June 7, 2002
HATTIESBURG There was a little bit of the old and a lot of the new Thursday at the 89th Mississippi Golf Association Amateur championship.
Many of the hardy perennials of Mississippi amateur golf were in attendance at Canebrake Golf Club, including 85-year-old H.G. Weddington of Meridian, who teed it up for the 71st consecutive time at the State Am.
The youngest player in the field is 15-year-old Matt Fast, who will be a sophomore at Oak Grove High this fall. Fast had an up-and-down day, skirting trouble throughout his round, but still finishing with a 76.
Although Fast may have been the youngster in the field, he wasn't fazed by playing in such a big showcase.
The oldest entrant in the field, Weddington made his Gene Sarazen-like token appearance, extending his string of State Am appearances, before departing after nine holes.
Stewart said the old man still has plenty of wisdom to offer the younger players.
Stewart was the leader of the Meridian contingent, firing a 1-over-par 72. He is tied with four other players at 72.
Sitting one shot behind Stewart at 73 is a group that includes Doyle Bryan of Meridian and Dan Luke of Hickory and Meridian Community College.
Other local players in the State Am field and their scores were Dan Angero of Meridian (75), Winston Powell of Meridian (76), Matt Smith of Collinsville (78), Joey Landrum of Ovett (80), Earl Aycock of Meridian (80), Clinton Hales of Meridian (80), Johnathan Winstead of Union (82), J.T. Williamson of Meridian (84) and Wayne Boler of Laurel (85).