Eighth-grader boosts Dutch Fork

AIKEN - Dutch Fork golf coach Mark Giles expects the Bryan brothers to perform well each time they tee it up in competition.

Getting a score to count from an eighth-grader playing in his first high school tournament is another matter.

Giles got the unexpected Friday in the first round of the Southern Cross Invitational at Palmetto Golf Club. Freshman Wesley Bryan shot 70, junior George Bryan posted 71 and 14-year-old Mark Joye added 77 as the Silver Foxes opened up a four-shot lead over T.L. Hanna and Greenwood heading into today's final round.

"We had a better day than I expected," Giles said. "I expect the Bryan boys to be at par or better. I brought an eighth-grader for experience, and he came through."

The format for the Southern Cross counts the three best out of four scores. Most prep tournaments count the best four out of five. Dutch Fork's other score, 94 by Chase Liebler, didn't have to count.

Joye made the most of his debut with 38 on the front nine. He reached a pivotal point at the par-5 14th when his second shot came to rest in a dry creek bed on the hole known as "Crazy Creek." But he hit his approach to five feet and made birdie, then played solid enough to post 77.

George Bryan, who won last week's Joe Wyatt Memorial at Houndslake Country Club, posted even-par 71. He was outdone by his younger brother, Wesley, by one shot.

"We've usually got three guys that can shoot well," he said. "When our fourth man plays, we're as good as any team in the state."

Giles said the addition of Wesley Bryan, who has missed time this year because of knee surgery, has been a key.

"We haven't been playing well all year," he said. "Getting Wesley back has given us momentum."

In the individual race, Luke Hopkins, of Eastside, and Ben Martin, of Greenwood, are tied for the lead at 2-under-par 69. Wesley Bryan and Justin Thompson, of North Augusta, are tied for third at 70, and George Bryan and Philip Mollica, of T.L. Hanna, are another shot back at 71.

Thompson had the most interesting card of the day with nine birdies. But he made a double bogey at the par-3 ninth and a triple-bogey at the par-5 10th to keep him from seizing the individual lead.

North Augusta is tied for seventh in the team race at 230, 12 shots behind Dutch Fork. South Aiken (233), Strom Thurmond (234), Augusta Prep (235) and Aiken (258) round out the local teams.

The second round begins today at 7:30 a.m. with players going off the Nos. 1 and 10 tees.

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.