Playing in his first Senior Match Play Championship, Scott McGihon is the top seed after the qualifying rounds
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
His unique name alone draws attention to Buzz Fly. But his run of success in Tennessee Golf Association Super Senior events over the past few years has given the Memphis resident well-deserved recognition beyond his unusual moniker.
The TPC Southwind member has won the past three Tennessee Super Senior Amateur titles – his most recent victory occurring three weeks ago in a playoff - along with a trio of Senior Four-Ball championships teamed with the legendary Tim Jackson. Fly also snagged the 2013 Senior Match Play event, bringing his career total to seven TGA titles.
So, it’s little surprise that Fly finished as medalist in the qualifying rounds of the Tennessee Super Senior Match Play Championship, navigating Cleveland Country Club in even par on Wednesday to post a two-day total of 3-over 147.
Fly recorded six birdies on his round, including four of his last seven holes. But double-bogeys on a pair of par 5s at No. 7 and 10 plus two other bogeys left him at level par on the day.
Two-time defending champion Tom Baird of Signal Mountain carded a 74 to finish deadlocked with Kingsport’s Tony Green at 5-over 149. The Chattanooga Golf & Country Club member will be seeded second in match play.
Green, winner of the 2019 Super Senior Match Play competition and a pair of Senior Match Play titles, enters Thursday’s match play quarterfinals as the third seed after shooting 74 to close at 5-over 149.
Fred McCord of Collierville and Chattanooga’s Harry Hill tied for fourth in qualifying at 6-over 150. McCord recorded a solid round of 72 with 16 pars accompanied by a single bogey and birdie, while Hill posted an 80 after claiming the first-round lead with a 70.
Others clearing the cut line of +8 included Clarksville’s Rob Long and Jack Neinken of Nashville at 7-over 151, while Ed Link of Memphis – the 2017 champion - shot 74 to finish at 8-over 152.
The quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be staged on Thursday, with the finals slated for Friday.
In the Senior Match Play competition, Scott McGihon of Thompson’s Station recorded the day’s best round with a 3-under 69 to earn the top seed in match play. The Franklin Bridge Golf Club member posted three birdies to go with a lone bogey to finish at 2-under 142 in his first time in the event.
Cleveland Country Club’s Bob Rice – who won the 2016 championship - was the only other qualifier in red figures, shooting even par on Wednesday for a two-day total of 1-under 143. Bryan Rodgers of Knoxville placed third at 1-over 145 after carding a 71.
Knoxville’s John Thomas was fourth after a 74 left him at 3-over 147, while three golfers – Franklin’s Dan Crockett, Tullahoma’s Alan Jones and Steve Johnson of Lookout Mountain Club – all tied for fifth with a tally of 5-over 149.
Others advancing to the 16-person match play bracket included Zeb Patten of Lookout Mountain Club, Joe Markham and Tom Schreiner of Brainerd Golf Club, Kingsport’s Cary Daniels and Steve Golliher of Powell with a finish of 6-over 150.
2021 champion Jeff Golliher of Knoxville, Brainerd Golf Club’s Richard Keene and Tom Paulsen of Gallatin also qualified with scores of 7-over 151.
Moccasin Bend Golf Club’s Brent Henley and Tim Richardson of Cookeville were forced into a playoff for the final match play slot after finishing at 9-over 153, with Richardson prevailing.
Defending champion Mike Poe of Loudon was inside the cutline of +9 before closing with five bogeys in his final six holes to miss by two shots at 11-over 155.
The Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches in the Senior division are on tap Thursday, followed by the semifinals and finals on Friday.
For complete results, go to https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3991897
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Buzz Fly of Memphis was the low qualifier in the Tennessee Super Senior Match Play competition at Cleveland Country Club
photo by Tennessee Golf Association