Todd Burgan was looking forward to returning to Jackson Country Club this week for the first time in 12 years, having won the second of his four Tennessee Mid-Amateur titles during his last visit. Instead, the Powell resident navigated a U-turn along Interstate 40 west of Nashville on Tuesday afternoon to head back home.
With the impending threat of Tropical Storm Francine forecasted to dump up to four inches of rain in Jackson starting Thursday, the Tennessee Golf Association made the decision to postpone the State Mid-Amateur Championship to Oct. 16-18.
The tournament was slated to begin on Wednesday under sunny skies, but Thursday and Friday would be dealing with the remnants of Francine making her way northward.
“I was looking forward to playing, but I want to be able to play a 54-hole tournament,” Burgan said. “It was basically going to end up being an 18-hole tournament followed by two days of sitting in a hotel watching it rain. It was definitely the right move to postpone it.”
With 110 golfers in the field that is whittled down to the low 30 scores after 36 holes, it will involve some schedule adjustments for the competitors that might alter the list of entrants.
“Most mid-ams are still working and have to take time off to play in these events,” Burgan said. “But there’s no perfect solution. Postponing it is the lesser of two evils.”
Jeff Reuter and Aaron Ingalls, winners of last weekend’s Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four-Ball championship, were looking forward to having the tournament staged on their home golf course.
“We’re super excited to have it at home and not have to travel,” Reuter said last Sunday. “Plus, it makes it easier not having to take off work and being able to see our kids every evening.”
With the soggy forecast, they will now get even more time with family than first anticipated.
Taylor Mottern, the women’s golf coach at Sewanee, is the defending champion in the event after posting a 9-under 207 to win by three shots in last year’s tournament held at The Country Club, Inc. in Morristown.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com