Match Play Field At State Senior And Super Senior Four-Ball Decided In Playoff

Tom Baird has displayed a knack of playing his best golf in match play conditions the past few years, having won three straight Tennessee Super Senior Match Play Championships.

The Chattanooga Golf and Country Club member found himself in a similar situation Tuesday at Toqua Golf Club that would require the same level of resolve. He and partner Mike Nixon of Franklin were part of a three-way playoff seeking to secure the final spot into Wednesday’s match play portion of the Tennessee Super Senior Four-Ball Championship.

With the team of Ron Waters and Bob Clark eliminated on the first playoff hole, Baird and Nixon stood on the tee at No. 2 squaring off with Eddie and Boyd Wyatt. It was there that Baird relied on his past experience, albeit in a rather unconventional fashion.

Baird chipped in from 35 feet for the clinching birdie to earn a spot in the semifinals. But it took a fortunate bounce on his drive that made the winning pitch shot possible.

“I pulled my drive left into the trees, but it ricocheted out to the fairway still 230 yards out,” Baird said. “I hit three-wood short of the green and was able to chip it right in the hole. I was pretty lucky on that hole, but it worked out for us.”

The thrilling finish allows Baird and Nixon – a five-time Super Senior champion including three times in this event - to take on top-seeded team of Danny Green of Jackson and his partner Doug Harris of Nashville in Wednesday’s semifinal match. Green is seeking his 20^th Tennessee Golf Association title, second only to the 27 earned by the legendary Tim Jackson in state golf annals. Harris is chasing his fifth TGA title.

The other pairing will feature defending champions Tony Green of Kingsport and Knoxville’s Garry Siddons squaring off with Bryan Kendrick of Powell and David Apperson of Memphis.

Harris and Green won the stroke play competition with a final score of 10-under 134, two shots clear of Apperson and Kendrick. Harris led the way to the team score of 7-under 65 on Tuesday with seven birdies on his round.

Apperson’s four birdies paved the way for his team’s 5-under 67 to close at 8-under 136, two shots ahead of Green and Siddon who posted a 3-under 69 to finish at 6-under 138.

The trio of teams that went to the playoff to decide the final entrant all finished at 4-under 140, with Baird and Nixon closing strong by shooting 4-under on their final nine with an eagle and two birdies.

The Senior Four-Ball Championship match play field was also decided in a playoff with the team of Scott Negrotto of Kingsport and partner Rick Hudson birdieing No. 17 on the third extra hole to oust Brentwood’s Grove Harris and Peter Cobb.

The Tullahoma tandem of Alan Jones and Clay Uselton tied for medalist honors with Davis Burris of Manchester and Jay Potter of Tullahoma as both teams shot 5-under 67 to close with a two-day total of 11-under 133.

Three teams shot 66 on Tuesday to tie for third at 10-under 134. Those pairings included Franklin’s Steven Mann and Brent Songstad of Kingston Springs, Todd Burgan of Powell and Franklin’s Dan Crockett, and Ray Morton of Lenoir City and Brad Kuester of Knoxville.

Rounding out the eight teams advancing to Wednesday’s quarterfinals were Knoxville’s Will Kegley and Bill Oliver of Sevierville along with Jeff Walker of Greenbrier and partner Stuart Smith of Nashville as both teams closed at 9-under 135.

Hudson and Negrotto finished at 8-under 136, deadlocked with Cobb and Harris to force the playoff.

The pairings for the quarterfinal matches are:

Burris and Potter vs. Hudson and Negrotto

Kuester and Morgon vs. Mann and Songstad

Jones and Uselton vs. Smith and Walker

Burgan and Crockett vs. Kegley and Oliver

The Senior semifinals matches will be contested Wednesday afternoon, with both divisions crowing champions on Thursday when the finals will be played.

For complete results and live scoring, go to Senior and Super Sr. Four-Ball.

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Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com