Chase Smith and Drew McBrayer were playing some good golf Saturday morning, but there was one problem. Their playing partners, Todd Jenkins and Tony Bishop, were matching them shot for shot.

So Smith and McBrayer did the only thing they could do. They played a little better.

Smith and McBrayer teamed up to make 12 birdies and no bogeys for a low round of 60 and a two-shot lead at the Michelob Light 2-man Scramble at Clear Creek Golf Course.

Jenkins and Bishop were two shots back, as were Lance Elkins and Will Johnson. Joey Hasty and Javier Torres were another shot off the lead heading into today’s championship flight, which tees off at 1:30 p.m.

&#8220We both hit the ball well. I didn’t even have to putt the ball until the fifth hole,” Smith said. &#8220Drew was knocking in everything he looked at.”

Smith added that he and McBrayer got a lift from the play of Jenkins and Bishop. The latter duo shot a 62 and is very much alive heading into the final round.

&#8220Sixty-two was probably the worst they could have shot. They left a couple of shots out there,” Smith said. &#8220Playing with somebody that shoots well always helps you out.”

Elkins and Johnson zipped through the course with a 62 for the best round of the afternoon session. Hasty and Torres made nine birdies in a bogey-free round of 63, and felt they should have been even lower than that.

&#8220We were expecting more than that. We left three or four putts over there,” Torres said.

While Smith and McBrayer will set the pace this afternoon, they’ll need another solid round to close things out. The twelve teams in the championship flight are all within five strokes of the lead, meaning a few shanks here or a couple of birdies there can change the outcome in a hurry.

&#8220We all have a chance. If we play like we did today, we can probably shoot 12 under tomorrow,” Torres said.

Smith expected the course to be tougher today and a low score harder to achieve.

&#8220Another 60 would be nice, but the pins will be back and the tees will be harder,” Smith said. &#8220We can do a little better. We missed three or four putts today.”

Clement takes lead at VCC Championship.

The Vicksburg Country Club Championship is referred to by its members as &#8220Three Days of Hell.” On Saturday, it lived up to its name.

Greg Clement shot a 1-under 71 on the second day of the tournament – the only round under par on the hilly course – to take a five-shot lead heading into today’s championship flight. In the first two rounds, only three golfers have shot 72 or lower.

Kacy Presley and Bill Grey were tied for second place with a two-day total of 150, and Jake Dornbusch was another shot back in third. Dornbusch shot an even-par 72 on Saturday, the only round besides Clement’s to touch the mark.

Steven Marcus, who shot a 69 in Friday’s first round, shot 83 on Saturday. He was still in contention, though, tied with Ben Brooks at 152. Eddie Buckner and Louis Lambiotte are at 154, nine shots behind Clement, and will round out the championship flight.