Lett Leads Strong Council Fire Contingent Into Final Day Of Chattanooga TPC

  • Saturday, October 5, 2024
  • Paul Payne
Jim Lett, left, and Joe Markham Jr. shake hands after Lett's birdie putt gave him the win on the 19th hole of their match
Jim Lett, left, and Joe Markham Jr. shake hands after Lett's birdie putt gave him the win on the 19th hole of their match
photo by Paul Payne

Council Fire Club has served as the only host of the Chattanooga TPC since its inception, and Sunday’s matches in the 31st edition of this event will have a distinctive home course flavor.

Three of the four semifinalists in the Regular Division call Council Fire home including East Hamilton High School teammates Griffin Law and Tucker Wick along with Brendon Wilson. Steven Locke, who plays out of Flagstone Golf Club in Cleveland, is the lone outlier.

Jim Lett has been a member at the club since it opened in 1992. He missed by a stroke of making it into match play during his previous try, so he was proud to finally achieve that goal during Thursday’s Senior Division qualifier.

After winning his semifinal match on Saturday in 19 holes over Joe Markham Jr., Lett will now need to adjust his expectations. There’s an even bigger prize hanging in the balance as he takes on Jay Potter in Sunday’s championship match.

“My goal was just to make it into match play,” Lett said. “After I got in, I hoped I could win a match because I don’t play a lot of match play. All I need to do now is just go win another match, so this has been very satisfying.”

Entering his match with Markham Jr., who earlier this summer won the Tennessee Senior State Open, Lett knew it was a formidable challenge.

“I said to somebody earlier that I need my ‘A+’ game and hope that Joe brings his ‘C’ game for me to have a chance,” Lett said. “He didn't play didn't play his best, but I kept fighting and hung in there until I made a couple of putts.”

The momentum swung in Lett’s favor early on the back nine after being 2-down at the turn.

“I birdied 11, and then I made a tap-in par on 12 while he bogeyed it,” Lett said. “All of a sudden, we were back to even and I could sense my confidence growing.”

Lett took a 1-up lead at 13, only to have Markham Jr. snag wins at 14 and 15 to regain the advantage.

Lett was able to square the match with a par at 16, and the match headed to No. 1 for extra holes after both players parred 17 and 18.

Lett’s approach from the fairway in the playoff left him 20 feet for birdie, and Markham Jr. delivered a steely shot from the fairway bunker to a similar distance. Lett’s downhill birdie attempt slid in the right side of the cup, while Markham Jr. barely missed his try to extend the match.

The win gave Lett a sense of validation after countless hours working with his instructor, former long-time Council Fire professional Hunt Gilliland.

“I've kept telling Hunt that I thought I could play with these guys,” Lett said. “I just couldn’t seem to get the ball into the hole as soon as they could. It’s nice to see all of this effort finally pay off.”

In the other semifinal match, Potter continued his recent success having earned co-champion honors last week at the Tennessee Senior Match Play championship. The Tullahoma resident and No. 1 seed lost only one hole in his match with Scott Patton and held a 5-up lead at the turn. A final birdie on No. 13 sealed the 6 and 5 outcome.

Two of the Regular Division quarterfinal contests also required extra holes on Saturday.

Wilson never led his match against Matt Crowder the entire afternoon until his decisive par on No. 3, the 22nd hole of their match. Crowder was 2-up with two to play before winning with pars on 17 and 18 to square the match.

Both golfers misfired on makeable birdie tries on the first two playoff holes, then Crowder was long with his approach at 3. Wilson’s par putt was conceded, and Crowder was unable to convert his par from six feet.

Law needed 19 holes to eliminate top-seeded Keoni Vidrine after finding himself 3-down with five holes remaining. A birdie on 14 narrowed the deficit to two, then Law forced extra holes with a birdie-birdie finish.

Vidrine pulled his drive on the playoff hole staged on No. 1 into the native grass to the left, then missed his birdie try after a nifty recovery shot. Law hit his approach from short range to inside a foot that was conceded for birdie and the win.

After losing his first three holes to fall into a 3-down deficit to Brandon Cissom, Wick never lost another hole in his 2-up victory. He finally pulled even with an eagle at the par-5 13th, then gained his first lead with a birdie on the next hole. A final birdie by Wick on 18 provided the final margin.

Locke surged to 4-up lead after five holes against 2023 runner-up Chris Wells, losing only one hole before closing his 6 and 5 win with a birdie on 13.

Law and Locke will lock horns in their semifinal match Sunday morning at 8 a.m., and Wilson and Wick go off at 8:10 a.m.

Lett and Potter will begin their Senior championship match at 12:20 on Sunday, followed by the Regular Division final at 12:30.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com

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