Faith, Brumlow lead locals at GSGA Georgia Amateur Championship

Golfers Bill Faith and Buck Brumlow paced a quartet of players with local connections Thursday in the opening round of the 98th Georgia State Golf Association Amateur Championship being played at Ansley Golf Club - Settindown Creek.

The 72-hole championship includes a field of 144 players that will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes.

The championship is being conducted at 7,150 yards to a par of 72.

Faith, an Atlanta resident and member of Cartersville Country Club, fired an opening round 75 and was tied for 47th place after 18 holes of action.

Brumlow (shown in photo) — a rising Cartersville High School junior — shot 76 in the first round and is tied for 59th place.

CCC member Harrison Gaylor shot an 8-over par 80 for a tie for 106th place and Dalton resident Brendan Hughes, who grew up at Cartersville Country Club, shot an 81 in the first round.

Andy Mao of Johns Creek is the first round leader at 6-under par 66 with Suwanee’s Spencer Ball right behind at 5-under par 67. Five players shot 68, including Ben Carr of Columbus, Jonathan Keppler of Marietta, Will Chandler of Atlanta, and Tim Schaetzel of Atlanta.

The Georgia Amateur Championship continues through Sunday.