Signal Mountain's Tom Baird is shown with winner's trophy after capturing the 2022 Tennessee Super Senior Match Play championship
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Signal Mountain resident Tom Baird seeks a three-peat in the Tennessee Super Senior Match Play this week hosted by Cleveland Country Club.
The Chattanooga Golf & Country Club member defeated Danny Green last year in the 19-hole final at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club. Baird won 5 &4 the previous year at Rarity Bay over 2019 champion Tony Green, who also has a pair of Senior Match Play titles on his resume’.
While competing in the senior division, Baird captured the 2010 Tennessee Senior Match Play at his home course while finishing runner-up in 2012.
The 7th edition of the Super Senior competition along with the 20th Senior championship begins on Tuesday with two days of stroke play competition. The top 16 finishers in the Senior division and the top eight in the Super Senior competition advance to match play format starting Thursday morning.
The Super Seniors will stage the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday, with the finals scheduled for Friday. The Senior division will complete the Round of 16 and quarterfinals on Thursday, with the semifinals and finals slated for Friday.
Mike Poe of Loudon will attempt to defend his 2022 Senior Match Play title, winning 5 &4 last year over Cookeville’s Tim Richardson after falling to Knoxville’s Jeff Golliher in the finals the year before.
Other former champions in the Senior field include 2016 winner Bob Rice, who defeated Chattanooga’s Richard Keene in the finals at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay. Buzz Fly, now competing in the Super Senior class, was the 2013 Senior champion.
Four-time Senior Match Play victor Tim Jackson of Williston, holder of 27 career Tennessee Golf Association career titles, will not be competing.
Chattanooga area contestants in the Senior division include Rice, Keene, Rick Gilliland, Brent Henley, Joe Markham, 2019 runner-up Scott Patton, Zeb Patten, Oscar Scruggs, Tom Schreiner, Steve Johnson, Randy Hill, Michael Guerrette, Tim Gambrell, Gary Davis and Chris Bloebaum.
Locals in addition to Baird in the Super Senior flight are Todd Fuhs, Glenn Grove, Harry Hill, Mike Jenkins and Jim Lett.
For pairings and results, go to https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3991897
Paul Payne can be reached at paulpayne6249@gmail.com