Hunter Wolcott, center, celebrated capturing the 2023 Tennessee State Open, winning by two shots over his brother Ben, left, while his father, Bob, right, won the event 40 years earlier
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
When it comes to finding a role model to understand what it takes to succeed in professional golf, Hunter Wolcott doesn’t have to look very far.
The resident of Burns who excelled at the University of Tennessee is the son of long-time PGA Tour veteran Bob Wolcott. The elder Wolcott competed in 261 professional tournaments, 168 of those taking place on the PGA Tour mostly between 1989-92 where he enjoyed five top 10s, including a pair of third-place finishes.
Now the owner of GreyStone Golf Club in his native Dickson County, Wolcott also played in 93 events in what is known today as the Korn Ferry Tour with a runner-up finish in 1994.
Hunter Wolcott won the 2023 Tennessee State Open at GreyStone by edging his older brother Ben by two shots, 40 years after his father claimed the same title. He took the next step in following in his father’s footsteps on Tuesday at the PGA Tour Q-School Second Stage qualifier. In the first of four rounds with hopes of advancing to the Q-School Final Stage later this month, Wolcott posted a 1-under par 71 to sit in a tie for 5th at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga.
With the low 16 scores plus ties moving on to TPC Sawgrass on Dec. 13-16, Wolcott overcame a bogey on his opening hole with consecutive birdies on 3 and 4 to make the turn in 35, then shot even par on the back to move within four shots of the lead.
Wolcott’s former UT teammate, Bryce Lewis of Hendersonville, along with Ryan Hall of Knoxville who competed at South Carolina both shot even par 72s to move into a tie for 7th.
Two other golfers with Tennessee connections – Chattanooga native Scott Stevens and Maryville’s Harry Lord - are currently inside the cutline with opening rounds of 1-over 73 to tie for 16th.
Others competing at Valdosta hoping to make a charge over the next three days are Dawson Armstrong of Spring Hill and Kyle Cottam of Knoxville at 2-over 74 to join those tied for 25th.
William Nottingham of Kingsport posted a 3-over 75 (T33), Spencer Cross of Sevierville shot 4-over 76 (T43), and Knoxville’s Jake Mynatt carded a 6-over 78 (T62).
In another Second Stage event hosted at the RTJ Golf Trail in Dothan, Ala., former MTSU golfer Owen Stamper shot a first-round 2-under 70 to earn a tie for 9th with several golfers yet to complete their opening round.
Others who finished play with local connections include former Chattanooga Moc Paul Conroy and Dickson’s Billy Tom Sargent at 3-over 75 (T52), along with UTC product John Houk of Athens and Trevor Johnson of Brentwood at 4-over 76 (T61).
The Dothan site will advance the top 17 finishers plus ties.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com