Schooldays golf tournament: Lebanon's Mark McDearman fires a 65 in stroke play

George Robinson
Nashville Tennessean

Mark McDearman's eagle putt from 6 feet out on his eighth hole of the day helped propel him to a 5-under 65 on Tuesday afternoon after the first day of The Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament at McCabe Golf Course.

McDearman, 17, from Lebanon, secured the No. 1 seed heading into Wednesday's match play after beating out Hartsville's Trey Melvin, who carded a 66.

Four others were under par Tuesday, including a three-way tie for third between Lafayette's Isaac Meador, Clarksville's Aiden Baker and Portland's Kobe Hill, who all shot 68. Franklin's Will Pinson shot a 69.

"It's probably the best day I've ever had in a tournament for a single day," McDearman said. "It's definitely the best day I've had in this tournament. My goal was to go out and play smart and play relaxed, and that's what I did."

Lebanon's Mark McDearman shot a 65  during the first day of the Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays golf tournament at McCabe Golf Course Tuesday, June 4, 2019 in Nashville.

A handful of the state's top golfers are not participating in this year's Schooldays tournament, including three-time girls champion Ashley Gilliam from Tullahoma and boys champion Patton Samuels from Clarksville Academy.

"There's still a lot of great golfers out here," McDearman said. "And really you're playing the course so you just have to concentrate and play within yourself."

Wednesday and Thursday will feature match play for girls and boys, and the tournament is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. Wednesday. The girls quarterfinals and semifinals and boys first round and quarterfinals will be Wednesday. The girls final and boys semifinal and final will be Thursday. 

McDearman was impressive on the greens, sinking four putts from about 10 feet and driving the majority of his tee shots into the fairway.

"I'm looking forward to match play," McDearman said. "We don't get a lot of chances to compete in match play so that's going to be fun."

Tyler Williamson, of Springfield, hits an iron as he teed off No. 11 during the first day of the Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays golf tournament Wednesday, June 4, 2019, at McCabe Golf Course in Nashville.

Nashville's Jackie Henderson, 12, from Battle Ground Academy, won a scorecard playoff against Anna Chew of Smithville after both fired 70s on Tuesday in the girls division.

Henderson said she played in a separate tournament Monday and came to McCabe ready. 

"I played (Monday) and so I came in here feeling super comfortable because I knocked off the rust," Henderson said. "My irons were way better (Tuesday) than (Monday)."

Henderson, who has never played match play, said she's confident and feels no pressure as the top seed. She'll face Franklin's Ava Bankston at 7 a.m. Wednesday in the girls' quarterfinal.

Chew will face Abigail Gornicki of Gallatin in quarterfinal match play at 7:14 a.m. Wednesday.

Here are the results of Tuesday's stroke play.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.