Vidrine, Locke Steamroll Into State Four-Ball Semifinals

Golf can be a fickle companion that suffers from schizophrenia. On some days it’s a satisfying outlet of skill and strategy, while on others it becomes a maddeningly frustrating addiction.

Keoni Vidrine has experienced both sides of this relationship with golf. But at the age of 30, he’s finally learned to find that perfect balance between what the game gives and the moments it still doles out lessons of humility.

Vidrine, who had a six-year fling at the professional level before regaining his amateur status two years ago, has once again endeared himself to the game of golf. This is after walking away from the sport for a period, wearied by the constant quest for unattainable perfection.

“I enjoy golf more now that I’ve gotten older and I have more golf IQ than when I was younger and played in all the state events,” Vidrine said. “I now have more enjoyment and acceptance of what golf is in my life, and it has made this game a lot easier over time.”

That newfound acceptance was on full display Thursday at the 54^th Tennessee Four-Ball Championship, where Vidrine and playing partner Steve Locke won both of their matches to advance to Friday’s semifinals.

The duo steamrolled through their quarterfinal match at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay against Knoxville’s Jacob Rose and Tate Woodruff, prevailing 6&5. Vidrine and Locke won three straight holes early to make the turn 5-up before closing out the match when Locke birdied No. 13.

“Steve and I have been friends for probably 15 years now, so the chemistry doesn’t get much better than that,” Vidrine said. “We know each other’s game just like our own, so we have a lot of trust in every shot no matter what it is.”

Vidrine, an Ooltewah resident, and Cleveland’s Locke earlier waltzed through their Round of 16 match against Cookeville’s Lee Maxwel and Tanner Davis of Knoxville, 4&3.

Having never won a Tennessee Golf Association title, Vidrine is hopeful that the magic he and Locke have displayed thus far continues on Friday.

“I finished top 20 at this year’s State Am and I’ve made it to the quarterfinals a lot in State match play and four-balls, but that was years ago,” Vidrine said. “Me and Steve have won a bunch of member-guest tournaments together over the years. But when it comes to something like this, we have never played in a state event together.”

Standing between Vidrine and Locke advancing to the championship finals looms the defending champions, Payne Denman and Whit Turnbow. The Murfreesboro residents are attempting to become the first repeat winners in this event since Danny Green and Rob Long went back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.

The top-seeded Turnbow and Denman pairing never lost a single hole as they rolled through their first match on Wednesday, taking down Jet Tickle and Chase Roswall, 6&5, in a rematch of last year’s championship final.

But their quarterfinal showdown with Tennessee Tech teammates Haden Maxwell and Mark McDearman proved to be a formidable challenge. Finding themselves 1-down after nine holes, Denman birdied 10 and 13 to go 1-up, and Turnbow’s birdie on 14 gave enough cushion for a 2&1 victory.

Also advancing to the semifinals are Middle Tennessee State University teammates JJ Zimmer and Sheldon McKnight. After combining for a score of 58 in Wednesday’s final round of stroke play to earn the No. 2 seed, they won their opening match, 2&1, with a birdie from Zimmer at 14 followed by another from McKnight on 15 to defeat Nashville’s Tucker Jenkins and Franklin’s Bill Wellons.

McKnight and Zimmer had an easier time in the afternoon, eliminating Riceville’s Wes Farris and Rick Mays, 5&3. Zimmer, who will be competing in next month’s U.S. Amateur, eagled No. 12 then had birdies on 13 and 15 to advance.

McKnight and Zimmer will take on Powell’s Ethan Whitaker and Carson Kammann of Knoxville in their semifinal tilt. Entering as the 11^th seed, Whitaker and Kammann took down Craig Reasor of Knoxville and Josh Collins of Maynardville, 4&3, in their opening match of the day.

In the quarterfinals, Whitaker and Kammann won holes 8 thru 11 with birdies to overcome a 1-down deficit, eventually winning by 3&1 against Lee University teammates Trey Melvin and Bennett McNabb.

In the other Round of 16 matches to open the day, the No. 14 seeded duo of Melvin and McNabb had a convincing 5&4 win over third-seeded Tucker Wick and Griffin Law. They won the opening two holes and were 3-up at the turn, never losing a hole the entire match.

Former Baylor School golfer Maxwell of Soddy-Daisy and Lebanon’s McDearman defeated Shelbyville’s Sterling Smith and Conner Brown, 4&2, while Farris and Mays ousted Grant Milling of Nashville and Matt Mitchell of Burns, 3&2.

Woodruff and Tate won their earlier match against 5^th-seeded John Houk of Athens and Josh Loveday of Englewood, 2&1.

Friday morning’s semifinal matches will be followed by the championship final in the afternoon.

For complete results, go to Tennessee Four-Ball Results.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com