Paul Payne
After first picking up a golf club at the age of four, Carlee Rogers could have never dreamed that one day she would be competing on some of the nation’s most iconic golf courses.
The rising junior at Baylor School had the opportunity to participate in the 48th Boys & Girls Junior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. last week. While she had hoped for a better result, the experience was still memorable for the Hixson resident.
“It was an amazing experience,” Rogers said. “It was a super cool environment. Congressional was probably one of the nicest courses I've ever played, but it was very challenging.”
Rogers opened Tuesday with a round of 4-over 75 on the White Course, managing two birdies that were offset by six bogeys. The Blue Course proved to be more of a challenge on Wednesday, where she shot 10-over 82 to miss the 36-hole cut.
“There were a lot of great golfers there and I got to see a lot of good golf,” Rogers said. “I've got some good takeaways that I will be able to use moving forward.”
Rogers qualified by winning the Tennessee Junior PGA Championship in early June at Franklin Bridge Golf Club by two shots over Murfreesboro’s Isabella Johnson. She posted a two-day total of 3-under 139, closing with an impressive 68 that featured six birdies to earn medalist honors.
Johnson, who has committed to the University of Tennessee entering her final high school year, was tied for eighth after two days at 1-under as the top 60 advanced after 36-holes. But she missed the second cut advancing the top 30 by one shot after shooting 78 to finish 5-over through 54 holes.
The two-time defending champion of the Chattanooga City Prep tournament, Rogers has posted career-best rounds of 66 on two occasions. After being introduced to golf by her father, Chris, she developed her game through the years to where she claimed the AJGA Preview in Sevierville last year and has won several tournaments for the Red Raiders. Rogers also tied for third in last year’s prestigious Bubba Conlee National after shooting 8-under in the three-day event.
Rogers, who claims she “started beating my dad when I was pretty young”, has aspirations to compete at the collegiate level.
“I don't really have a specific school in mind,” Rogers said. “I just started talking to coaches and I’m just kind of getting a feel for everything and seeing where the best fit is. I want to stay in the south if possible.”
But for now, Rogers is still savoring her trip to Congressional, which has hosted multiple U.S. Opens and PGA Championships and is a future Ryder Cup site.
“This week definitely is one of my top career highlights so far,” Rogers said.
Keene Makes Return at Brainerd Invitational: One of the long-standing staples on the Chattanooga golf calendar is the Brainerd Invitational, and Richard Keene has a history of success in this event having won five times including three consecutive wins from 1991-93.
But this year’s 78th rendition of the tournament at Brainerd Golf Course on Aug. 10-11 will take on new significance for Keene.
The veteran golfer underwent a six-way heart bypass in May, and his appearance at next weekend’s tournament will be his first competition since the emergency procedure.
“I was fortunate to catch it early so there was no damage,” Keene said. “I’m hoping that my situation will encourage others to get checked out. If they do, then what I’ve been through has been worth it.”
Keene’s setback altered his original plans to qualify for the U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course later this month. After dealing with that disappointment, he made it his goal to be able to play at Brainerd.
“This will be the first time in my 66 years I can honestly say I’m just glad to be playing,” Keene said. “If I happen to be competitive, great. If not, I’m good with it at least for a little while.”
It will be the first time Keene will be competing in the Senior Division stating that “my ego does have some limitations.”
Keoni Vidrine is defending champion after winning by four shots last year. Vidrine has been playing well this summer, leading the Men’s Metro after the first day and advancing to the semifinals of the Tennessee Four-Ball two weeks ago at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay with partner Steven Locke. He was also the first-round leader Saturday of the Springbrook Invitational in Niota after an opening round 63.
Joe Markham Jr., winner of this year’s Senior State Open, also returns to defend his senior title from last year.
Volunteers Still Needed for U.S. Senior Amateur: With less than three weeks remaining until The Honors Course hosts the prestigious U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, there are still opportunities to volunteer in various roles.
Tim Haralson, volunteer chairman of the Chattanooga Classic Club that orchestrates the logistics in staging such an event, announced at Thursday’s event media day that roughly three-fourths of the desired 400 volunteer positions have been filled.
The primary areas of need are Marshals and Spotters. Other roles include Stationery and Walking Scorers, Practice Range and Caddie Bib assistance, Registration, Ecology and Hydration, Food & Beverage, Medical, Transportation/Parking, Standard Bearers, and Grounds Maintenance.
All who work three or more shifts during the week will receive an invitation to play The Honors Course after the tournament. Volunteers will be required to purchase a uniform consisting of a Peter Millar shirt, plus a Golf Cap or a Big Hat. Meals while working will be provided, and of course you may watch the play when not working.
To sign up as a volunteer, go to US Senior Amateur volunteer link.
Trio of Tennesseans in This Week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur: The 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship commences on Monday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. with three Tennessee natives in the field.
Bella Bugg of Franklin, a rising sophomore at Florida State University, earned entry into her first USGA event by claiming the Tennessee Women’s Amateur earlier this summer. Bugg also captured the 2022 Tennessee Women’s Four-Ball with Isabella Johnson, becoming the youngest winners in the event’s history.
Joining Bugg by virtue of local qualifying are Molly Hardwick of Nashville, a junior at College of Charleston after two seasons at Ole Miss, along with incoming University of Tennessee freshman Sophie Christopher of Germantown.
Brown, Herrington Continue Their Torrid Summer: Nashville’s Blades Brown and Dickson’s Jackson Herrington continued their stellar play by advancing to the Round of 16 last week in the 122nd Western Amateur held in Dayton, Ohio.
After combining to finish runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in late May, the duo has since secured qualifying for the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine later this month. Last year Brown became the youngest co-medalist in U.S. Amateur history, breaking the record set in 1920 by an 18-year-old Bobby Jones. Playing in his first U.S. Amateur, his 8-under 64 in the second round was the low round of the day. Before that, Brown fired rounds of 65 and 62 to be co-medalist at his U.S. Amateur qualifying site.
Herrington became the first junior golfer to win the Tennessee State Open last month, and will enroll at Tennessee in the fall.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Carlee Rogers poses in front of the fabled clubhouse at Congressional Golf Club