BELLA VISTA — As an All-State basketball player at Rogers High in 1990, Mark Chambers was known as an accurate, long-range shooter for a Mounties basketball team that broke a nearly two decades-old state tournament drought.
These days, the Bentonville resident swings an accurate golf club.
Chambers used a quick start Thursday to fashion a 4-under-par 68 in the first round for a share of the lead at the Bella Vista Village Men’s Championship. Ryan Sumrall also fired a 68 on the Country Club Course while Bella Vista’s Chris Vernelson shot a 3-under 69.
The second round will begin at 8 a.m. today with the final round scheduled for Saturday morning.
No one knows for sure how long the tournament has been played but this year is at least the 39th consecutive because Doyle Sherman, of Bella Vista, has played in the last 39 events.
“I think it was being played for three or four years before I started in 1971,” Sherman said.
Sherman lived in Kansas City when he first started playing in the tournament and even made the annual trip down despite moving to Wisconsin for a number of years. Sherman, 72, retired in 1991 and has been living on and off in Bella Vista ever since.
Sherman is playing in the fourth flight and he shot an 88 on Thursday.
“I love golf,” Sherman said. “Golf is my life. I have played in every flight. An 88 is not bad for me, considering we play the ball down and play from the No. 2 tees.”
Chambers carded an eagle at the par-5 No. 3 hole and then followed that up with a birdie on No. 4, a 337-yard par 4. Chambers had just one bogey.
“I only missed three or four greens,” Chambers said. “Getting off to that good start helped.”
Vernelson was 2-over after four holes, but fired a 3-under 33 on the backside for his 69. Vernelson said a little swing adjustment made a big difference.
“I shortened my swing and said, ‘I’m going to hit fairways and greens,’” Vernelson said. “I had 14 putts on the back nine. I hit a lot of my irons pin high.”
At A Glance
Bella Vista Village Men’s Championship
WHEN: Thursday-Saturday
WHERE: Country Club Golf Course, Bella Vista
YARDS: 6,900 PAR: 72
First-Round Results
Thursday
Championship Flight
Mark Chambers 68
Ryan Sumrall 68
Chris Vernelson 69
Jim Mowen 73
Larry Hayford 73
Reggie Greer 74
Jonathan Boyer 74
Jordan Daharsh 74
Donald Blount 75
Jim Hopkins 76
Bob Brooks 76
Lee Myane 77
Mike Martin 78
Tim Barnes 78
John Haynie 78
Gary Compton 79
John Schildhouse 79
Darren Pinner 80
Patrick Runion 80
Daniel Nieman 83
Josh Rea 85
Bill Hayford 85
Ace Rouse 85
Jeremy Johnson 92
Alex Graziani 91
Jeremy Adams 96