Jeff Reuter, left, and Aaron Ingalls lead heading into Sunday's final round of the Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four-Ball championship
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Aaron Ingalls and Jeff Reuter proved their ability to successfully navigate Spring Hill’s Towhee Club in early May when the 4th Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship was originally scheduled.
However, their impressive opening round of 10-under 60 was washed away with the deluge of rain that postponed the tournament until this weekend.
The Jackson Country Club duo didn’t fret over their negated special round, and instead used it as an opportunity to post an even better result.
Ingalls, who hails from Jackson, and Humboldt native Reuter managed seven birdies apiece on Saturday to combine for an 11-under 59 on the par-70, 6,513-yard course in ideal conditions, grabbing a three-shot lead headed into Sunday’s final round.
The pair is hoping to recapture the crown in this event having won in 2022. After both players recorded birdies on the opening hole, Reuter closed the front nine with three successive birdies to lead his team to an opening 29.
Ingalls, the 2018 State Amateur champion and qualifier for this year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur in two weeks at Virginia’s Kinloch Golf Club, caught fire on the back side. He rolled in four straight birdies starting on No. 13 to move their total to 11-under, before the duo closed with two pars.
Sitting in second place at 8-under 62 are Matt Mitchell of Burns and Ben Fisher of Germantown. The Spring Creek Ranch golfers opened with a 29 at the turn, and Mitchell recorded three of his afternoon’s six birdies over the final four holes to pace a strong finish.
Casey Talbert of Murfreesboro and Bracton Womack of McMinnville finished at 6-under 64 to secure third place. Womack, who played collegiately at Tennessee Tech University, recorded an eagle on each of his nines, carding a pair of 3s on the par-5 7th and 16th holes.
Three teams are tied for fourth at 5-under 65. John Jonas and Richard Oref of Nashville’s Hermitage Golf Course, Jake Fait and Scotty Hudson of Nashville Golf and Athletic Club along with Powell’s Todd Burgan and Nashville’s Travis Womble all stand six shots off the lead.
For complete results, go to State Mid-Am Four-Ball results.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com