BY DON NAPIER
The City of Crossville will once again sponsor the Tennessee Senior State Open. This year’s tournament, the fifth annual event, will be held at Stonehenge Golf Course in Fairfield Glade, and be played on May 13-14.
The Tennessee Section PGA looks for the top senior men in the state to square off when the City of Crossville hosts this, one of the top tournaments of the year held in the Volunteer State.
2013 winner Bill Breen
“This tournament is open to all Professionals and Amateurs with a 10 handicap or better, who live in the state of Tennessee or are a member of the Tennessee Section PGA,” City of Crossville Marketing Director Billy Loggins said. “Players must be 50 years old by May 12, 2014.”
“There is a Super Senior Division for those who are 65 and older,” Loggins said. “This division will play from shorter tees and compete for a separate purse.”
The Title Sponsor is City of Crossville, Mayor J.H. Graham III. Marketing Director and tournament advisor is Billy Loggins. The field size will be restricted to 102 players in the Championship Division. The Super Senior Division will be limited to the first 24 players who register.
Players that qualify for early registration: All Tennessee PGA Section Members and Apprentices; Winners of the Senior State Open Championship – last ten years; Top 30 and ties from the 2013 Senior State Open; 2013 TGA Player of the Year List – Top 20; Winner of the TGA Senior Match Play Championship last five years; Winner of the TGA Senior Amateur Championship last five years.
Bill Breen 2013 Champ
A record number of players participated in the 2013 Senior State Open (143 players). Unlike previous years of the Tennessee Senior State Open, the weather was sunny, beautiful, yet windy at the idyllic Stonehenge Golf Course. However, the better weather did not translate into lower scores, as there were no rounds under par after round one. The low score after the first round was a 1-over-par 73 carded by professionals Danny Briggs, Bill Hickey and Richard Smith.
Round two featured a group of players at the top of their game, and some terrific drama on the back nine. Nevertheless, this day belonged to Professional Bill Breen from Nashville, Tenn. who carded four birdies on the day and fired a three-under-par 33 (-3) on the back nine to shoot the only under par round of the tournament of two-under 70. His clutch sand save on the final hole captured the championship, although he had to sweat out a 10 foot birdie putt for the tie by amateur Paul Korth from Cookeville. Breen finished with a two day total of 76-70-146 to beat out Korth (74-73-147). Breen took home $7,500 for winning his first Senior State Open Championship.
Super Seniors Play Super
New to the Senior State Open last year, was the Super Senior Division for participants 65 and older. Ron Kilgore (a) of Knoxville, Tenn. held onto his first round three shot lead to win the inaugural Super Senior division. He followed up his even par 72 with a second round 79 to hold off runner-up Stephen Kehrer (a) of Crossville. Kilgore finished strong by going birdie, birdie, par on the last three holes, including a hole out from the bunker on seventeen. Congratulations to all of the Super Seniors for their play. We look forward to watching the Super Senior Division for years to come.
More Senior News
Professional Harry Taylor and amateur Danny Green were declared co-champions of the third annual Tennessee Senior State Open in 2012. The 36-hole tournament was shortened to 18, as the second round was canceled due to unplayable course conditions, according to the TPGA.
According to David Olinger, Tournament Director, the field for the open has grown each year. This year the field will be capped at 156 and there will be a Super Senior Division for players 65 and older.
Local players have enjoyed some success over the years. Crossville’s Eddie Wyatt tied for seventh with Nashville’s Craig McElhaney in 2012, while another Crossvillian Tony Cox was tied for 18th with Riceville’s Bob Rice and Hendersonville’s Ron Cox at three-over par 75. Boyd Wyatt Jr. of Knoxville (formerly of Crossville) was tied for 42nd at seven-over par 79.
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Women’s Open Coming Soon
The Tennessee Golf Association, celebrating its Centennial Anniversary, is excited to host its 16th Annual Golf Capital of Tennessee Women’s Open Championship at Stonehenge Golf Club again this year, on July 31-August 2. While the championship consistently features the top amateurs and professionals from Tennessee, contestants come from across the country for the competition, and to experience the Crossville hospitality. This year marks the 11th season the event will be hosted in Crossville, and its 5th consecutive year at Stonehenge.
Stonehenge awarded 2013 Public Golf Course of the Year
The Fairfield Glade Community Club (FGCC) announces that Stonehenge Golf Club has been awarded the 2013 Public Golf Course of the Year by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. This is a very prestigious award and recognizes the hard work of Superintendent Sean VanHoose and his team, to make Stonehenge Golf Club the best public golf course in Tennessee. Stonehenge Golf Club proudly hosts the Tennessee Golf Association Father Son Tournament, Tennessee Golf Association Women’s Open, Tennessee PGA Senior State Open and the TGA/TPGA Tennessee Cup.
Stonehenge Golf Club is currently ranked in the Top Five Courses in Tennessee by Golfweek Magazine. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, and supports ongoing programs in research, education and extension in the areas of turfgrass management.
