Before this week’s Tenn. State Senior Amateur Neil Spitalny picked Richard Keene as the pre-tournament favorite.
Spitalny’s prediction might come true and if so, the Chattanooga surgeon will have the “best seat in the house” as he and Keene are co-leaders (1-over) heading into Friday’s final round at Lookout Mountain Golf Course and will be in the final group along with Stuart Smith (Nashville) who is two shots back at +3.
The next to last group has Buzz Fly (Memphis) and 2013 champion Mike Freels (Chuckey) at +3 and John Thomas (Knoxville) at +4.
Defending champion and Jackson resident Danny Green (winner in 2012, 2014) is four shots off the lead at +5 and will be in the third to last group with Tom Baird (+5, Signal Mtn.) and Greg Guinn (+6, Clarksville).
Slow Start, Fast Finish: Keene opened the day with a double bogey 5 on No.1 and found himself 2-over for the day and 4-over for the tourney before a hole in one at No.13 followed by a birdie on No.14 to finish 1-over.
Spitalny, who was third in 2014, shot 2-over today after a 1-under 69 and a share of the lead Wednesday.’
Last Chattanooga area Winner
Three-time champion Ed Brantly is the last Chattanooga area winner in 1989 and also won it in 1985 and 1986. Lew Oehmig (Lookout Mountain) with seven titles and Ira Templeton (Chattanooga) with two titles are the only other area golfers to win the senior championship.
Under Par: Tom Baird (2-under 68), Keene (1-under 69) and Smith (1-under 69) were the only three golfers to break par today.
2015 Men’s Senior Amateur (leaders)
+1 Neil Spitalny
+1 Richard Keene
+3 Stuart Smith
+3 Buzz Fly
+3 Mike Freels (champion in 2013)
+4 John Thomas
+5 Tom Baird
+5 Danny Green (champion in 2012, 2014)
For complete results:
http://www.ghintpp.com/tga/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsStroke.aspx?id=521
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net