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Andrew Black remembers the first time he ever played The Honors Course.

The year was 1993, and the occasion was the Chattanooga Junior Classic, a season-ending event that matched the city’s top amateur players. Black’s recollection is that he didn’t play his best.

“I must have shot about 100,” said Black, smiling at the memory. “I’d never been so scared in my life.”

Eleven years later, Black wasn’t scared when he stuck a tee in the ground at The Honors’ first hole on Wednesday. This time, the tournament was the Southern Amateur. The strapping 24-year-old, two years removed from a solid career at the University of Tennessee and his sights set on professional golf, knew he needed a good showing in what he calls “one of my favorite tournaments,” if nothing else than to give him a shot of confidence.

If validation of his game was what Black sought, his mission was successful. His 5-under-par 67 was by far the best score of the rain-plagued first round, three shots clear of Penn State junior Greg Pieczynski. Only three other players, former Walker Cup team member Trip Kuehne of Irvin, Texas; Jake Thompson of Greenville, S.C.; and Ryan Posey of Dallas were under par. Each turned in a 71.

Another shot behind in a group at 72 was McCallie junior Adam Mitchell, who may have proved that his game can travel well from junior golf to major amateur tournaments.

Thirty-three players were still on the course when play was halted for the day, a 90-minute rain delay earlier having made the course a mess and knocked out power at the club.

Black had a fun day. He made six birdies—three on the front and three on the back—and nearly toured The Honors without a blemish, something that few players do. Black didn’t make a bogey until the 18^th hole when his tee shot—which he was hoping to cut ever so slightly off the left fairway bunkers—didn’t oblige and stayed straight.

“It went right into my little garden,” Black said of his errant tee shot. “Every time I play here, I hit it over in the trees. They ought to put a plaque over there, I’m in the trees so much.”

Black pitched out of the woods and hit his approach 30 feet past the pin and nearly holed his par putt. Black wasn’t too upset with the bogey, though. He still set an Honors Course career best.

It took Black a while to get going. He didn’t make a birdie until knocking in an eight-foot putt at No. 5, but he made up for lost time, making two more birdies at Nos. 6 and 7. After a couple of pars at 8 and 9, Black made two more birdies at No. 10 and 11, giving him five in a seven-hole stretch.

Pieczynski, who helped lead Penn State to its best NCAA Championship finish since 1968 (15^th), turned in the day’s second-best score.

Several Chattanooga area players were still on the course when the day’s play was called, including Ricky Honeycutt and recent Metro champion Chris Gilliland.