Todd Burgan of Powell is the first-round co-leader at the Tennessee Senior Match Play
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Nine-time TGA winner Steve Golliher was co-medalist in Tuesday's play
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Springville's Richard Smith was the lone golfer in red numbers on Monday in the Tennessee Super Senior Match Play
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Jerry Ishee of Nashville is in second place among participants of the Tennessee Super Senior Match Play
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
As long-time members of Knoxville’s Holston Hills Country Club, Todd Burgan and Steve Golliher have had their fair share of head-to-head showdowns over the years. But this week, they have shifted that friendly rivalry a couple of hours to the west with plenty of bragging rights on the line.
Burgan and Golliher both shot 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday in the opening round of the 20th Tennessee Senior Match Play championship being held at Shelbyville’s RiverBend Country Club to share the lead after the first round.
“We play in the same game a lot back home,” Burgan said. “I actually beat him in a playoff to win my first club championship at Holston years ago, but he's gotten me a few times, too. We've gone up against each other a bunch over the years and we’ve been friends for a long time.”
Both golfers have enjoyed success at the state level as well. Golliher, 69, has nine Tennessee Golf Association titles on his résumé. He won the 1996 Mid-Amateur and the 2018 Senior Amateur in addition to teaming up to capture three State Four-Balls and four State Senior Four-Ball victories.
Burgan, who turned 55 in April, has his own impressive record with six TGA titles. He claimed four State Mid-Amateur titles – including three in a five-year stretch – along with the 2009 State Match Play and the 2000 State Four-Ball.
The duo competed in the same group on Tuesday, and both got off to torrid starts. Burgan was 4-under after three holes thanks to a pair of birdies and an eagle on the 473-yard, par-5 2nd hole. Meanwhile, Golliher had three straight birdies starting on No. 2 to quickly move to 3-under.
Burgan managed another birdie at 6 to offset a bogey at 5, then strung together a run of eight consecutive pars that was interrupted by a double bogey on 15.
Golliher bogeyed the 6th and had a double bogey on 10 before another three-birdie streak began at 12. Like Burgan, he had trouble at 15 with a bogey to deadlock the Powell residents at 2-under for the day.
The other member of their threesome, Steven Mann of Franklin, is one shot back after posting a 1-under 71. Mann’s round featured 15 pars to go along with birdies at 5 and 18 plus a bogey at 13.
Bill Oliver of Sevierville is in 4th after a round of even-par 72, while Tullahoma’s Alan Jones, last year’s runner-up to Dan Crockett at Cleveland Country Club, joins a group of six golfers tied for 5th at 1-over 73.
The low 16 scores following Wednesday’s second stroke play round will advance into match play on Thursday.
In the 8th Tennessee Super Senior Match Play, Richard Smith of Springville was the lone golfer under par following his opening round 2-under-par 70.
Nashville’s Jerry Ishee stands alone in second place two shots back after posting an even-par 70.
A quartet of golfers – 19-time TGA champion Danny Green of Jackson, Neil Spitalny of Chattanooga, 2017 champion Ed Link and Van Fletcher of Nashville – are tied for 3rd at 1-over-par 73.
Three-time defending champion Tom Baird of Signal Mountain posted a 4-over-par 76, good for solo 8th place.
The eight low scores following Wednesday’s round advance to the match play quarterfinals that take place on Thursday.
For complete results, go to State Senior/Super Sr. Match Play.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com