Ray, Weddington hold early lead at Northwood tourney

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
May 30, 2004
Afternoon skies threatened but never delivered any rain as the first round of the Ed Lewis Memorial Day Tournament had clear sailing.
The team of David Ray and Alex Weddington had the day's best performance, shooting a 7-under par 64 on the par-71 course at Northwood Country Club.
A pair of teams are just one stroke off the lead. The team of David Calhoun and Scott Chesser and the duo of Earl Aycock and Randy Pool both shot 6-under par 65s in the four-ball format.
Two other teams are just two strokes out of the lead. Billy McWilliams and Bilbo Mitchell shot a 5-under par 66 as did the team of Doyle Bryan and Bubba Hampton.
Three teams are tied at 67. Jimbo Green and John Rea, Ed Brown and Chuck Gordon, and Judge Little and Scott Morgan each finished their first 18 holes four strokes under par.
Also in a three-way tie are the teams of Jimmy Carle and Johnny Dement, Ferrell Fort and Andy Lucovich, and Ben McLeod and Chuck Rea. They all shot 3-under par 68. Carle and Dement are the defending champions.
Completing the championship flight is the team of Joel Nelson and Steve Nelson. They shot 69.
Of the 66 teams competing in the three-day tournament, 18 broke par in the opening round. One team, Bobby Espy and Walter Williams, shot an even par 71, while the remaining 47 teams finished over par.
Action resumes this morning with the top three flights teeing off at 8:30 a.m. Today's round will have a scramble format. Monday's final 18 holes will be played with an alternate shot format.