MOULTRIE — Today’s first round of the 53rd Pot o’ Gold Pro-Am appears in jeopardy with a 100-percent chance of heavy rain in the forecast.

But if the storms should find a way to bypass Moultrie, the Sunset Country Club’s two teams will have a little something extra to bank on.

Adam Thomas, who will be playing for Sunset pro Bob Windom’s Black team, won Friday’s long drive contest, sending a shot measured at 318 yards.

And Brad Eunice, who is on Windom’s Gold foursome, finished in a tie for third at 310 yards.

The long drive contest helps kick off the tournament, held annually at Sunset Country Club. The Pot o’ Gold’s 58 teams are scheduled for shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. today. The tournament will continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Longtime tournament chairman Max Hancock said if rain washes out today’s round, the tournament’s prizes will be based on the scores from the Saturday and Sunday rounds.

A washout of the first round would be especially disappointing to Hancock, who said the Sunset course is in the best shape he’s ever seen it. And he gives much of the credit to superintendent Carl Edmondson, who also has worked at Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery, Ala., and has 30 years of course maintenance.

“He knows his business,” Hancock said. “He’s done a superb job.”

The golfers who took advantage of a practice round and/or the long drive contest got to get a feel for the course on Friday.

Thomas went off early in the long drive event and held his lead for most of the two-hour competition.

The 1995 Georgia Amateur champion will team up with Ernie Venet and Kevin Blanton to give Windom’s Black team a shot at the team championship.

And Thomas is no stranger to Sunset. He has played the Ramsey Pidcock with Blanton. The two also traveled together on the Hooters Tour.

Justin Gupton, an amateur who will play with Jeff Peck’s foursome from Carolinas Country Club, was second in the long drive contest at 315 yards.

Eunice and Bo Burdette, who is playing with the team led by Highlands Country Club professional Bill Robinson, tied for third.

Eunice, his brother Chad and Jon Ladson will make up Windom’s Gold team.