Mann, Fly Capture Tennessee Senior Amateur Titles

After turning 55 two summers ago, Steven Mann was curious how his golf game would fare among the state’s best players in the senior division. The Franklin resident discovered he could compete quite nicely on a larger stage.

Mann finished in a tie as runner-up in the 2021 Tennessee Senior Amateur to the legendary Tim Jackson, albeit nine shots off the lead. But that experience gave him the confidence he could contend at a high level.

Dreams of winning a state title became a reality for Mann on Wednesday at the 53^rd Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship hosted by Rarity Bay Golf & Country Club in Vonore. The Golf Club of Tennessee member earned his first Tennessee Golf Association title with a 12-under 204, winning by four shots over Jackson after posting a final round 69.

“I’m extremely happy and winning this tournament means a lot,” Mann said. “I’ve kind of been an older grinder for a long time, and I’ve practiced a lot to get to this point. It lets me know I can complete with some of the top guys in our state.”

Entering the final round with a four-shot advantage over Lookout Mountain Club’s Steve Johnson, Mann saw his lead shrink to a single stroke twice over the course of his round. But his precise play on a pair of par 3 holes – Nos. 7 and 14 – helped secure the victory.

Mann four-putted the No. 7 in the second round after posting a bogey the first day. He walked away with a birdie on Wednesday to increase his lead back to four shots after consecutive bogeys from Johnson.

Johnson regained his poise by reeling off three straight birdies starting at No. 8 to narrow the gap, and another birdie at 13 shrunk his deficit back to one with five holes to play.

But Mann stuck a six-iron to eight feet and converted the birdie at 14, while Johnson posted a double-bogey on the ensuing hole to once again establish a four-shot margin.

“The birdie at 14 was the highlight of the day,” Mann said. “Steve had made a nice run and I was able to regain a two-shot lead there.”

Johnson recorded a round of 70 to finish third at 7-under 209, one shot behind Jackson’s 8-under 208. Playing in the next to last group, Jackson had an eagle on 13 to move within three shots of Mann, and a birdie on the last hole resulted in a 67 for low round of the day. It was the fifth time Jackson has finished runner-up to go along with four victories in the past ten years. He did not compete in 2015.

“Tim’s a legend in our state and he’s beaten everybody for a long time,” said Mann, who grew up in Hopkinsville, Ky. before moving to the Nashville area in 1998. “Having him compete in the tournament when I got my first win made it even more special because of what he’s meant to our sport.”

Steve Golliher of Powell, the 2018 Senior Amateur champion, finished in a tie for fourth at 5-under 211 with Jonesborough’s A.R. Rhea. Ken Lee of Franklin placed sixth at 3-under 213, while Pat Danehy of Memphis and Knoxville’s Bryan Rodgers closed at 2-under 214 to tie for seventh place.

In the Super Senior Amateur Championship, Buzz Fly of Memphis won his third straight title by defeating Jerry Matthew of Johnson City on the second hole of a playoff as the duo finished at 6-under 210.

After both golfers recorded pars at the par 5 10^th on the first playoff hole, Fly was able to secure the win with a two-putt birdie the second time around when Matthew missed the green with his approach.

“I hit a big drive on the second playoff hole, and was able to knock my six-iron on the green from 185. It felt really good to hit two solid shots under the gun in that situation,” Fly said.

Fly earned his seventh TGA title with the victory, and the TPC at Southwind member was thrilled to win this event for the third consecutive year.

“I would say anytime you win, it’s never easy,” Fly said. “Especially when I was two shots behind going to 15. This was much more difficult than the past times I’ve won, and it was nerve-wracking all the way to the last hole.”

Fly trailed by three shots entering the day, but drew even after Matthew triple-bogeyed No. 9. Consecutive birdies on 15 and 16 gave Fly a one-stroke lead headed to the par 5 final hole. With both golfers on the green in two, Fly narrowly missed his 35-foot eagle try to post a birdie. Meanwhile, Matthew canned his eagle attempt from 24-feet to force the playoff.

Fly closed with a round of 70, while Mathew finished with a 73 on the day.

David Apperson of Memphis owned a share of the lead after 12 holes before closing in third at 4-under 212. Kingsport’s Tony Green had the day’s low round with 67 to place fourth at 1-under 215. Chattanooga Golf & Country Club’s Tom Baird and Doug Harris of Hendersonville tied for fifth at even par 216.

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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com