Jack Doyle overcame steady rains to take the lead entering Wednesday's final round of the Tennessee Junior Amateur Championship
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
It’s a different year and a different venue, but the same annoying weather pattern has plagued the Tennessee Junior Amateur once again.
After last year’s event at Hermitage Golf Course was washed out during the final round that precipitated a playoff between the 36-hole co-leaders eventually won by Maddox Crowder, Mother Nature once again wreaked havoc on Tuesday at GreyStone Golf Club.
A wave of storms postponed the conclusion of the opening round until Tuesday morning, then the boys’ competition battled three separate delays during the second round with only half the field able to finish play before nightfall.
Completion of round two commences at 7:30 CDT Wednesday morning, and the low 36 scores will be re-paired to go off at 1 p.m. CDT for the final round.
Brentwood’s Jack Doyle seemed undeterred by the wet conditions, following an opening round 70 with a pristine 66 on Tuesday to grab the clubhouse lead at 8-under 136. The left-handed Belmont signee played his best golf as conditions worsened, reeling off four straight birdies on his final nine holes. Doyle tallied seven birdies on his round to move to 9-under before suffering his lone bogey at 17.
Lurking one shot off the lead is Franklin’s Will Pinson, who shot a bogey-free 68 that featured four birdies to finish at 7-under 137. The Middle Tennessee State-bound left-hander has racked up 10 birdies over two days. His lone blemish occurred on the first hole of Tuesday’s resumption of the opening round when he carded a triple bogey on No. 15 to post a 69.
Parker Tenent of Memphis sits alone in 3rd after his round of 67 that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys, completing 36-holes in 6-under 138.
Franklin’s Leo Froio is at 4-under with four holes remaining, tied with Nashville’s Turner Cline who completed 13 holes in his second round.
Defending champion Crowder of Lafayette is five shots off the lead after shooting 69 over his second round to stand at 3-under 141. Arrington’s Jake Eickhoff is also at 3-under thru 17 holes.
Provided that Wednesday’s favorable forecast allows for the tournament to be completed, the champion will earn the Harold Eller Trophy and secure a spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur slated for July 21-26 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.
For pairings and live scoring, go to Junior Amateur Results.
Girls’ Championship Shortened to 36 holes
While the boys’ competition slogged through the persistent rains and interruptions, the second round of the Tennessee Girls’ Junior Championship never found a window to begin play. The tournament will be shortened to 36-holes with the final round set to begin Wednesday at 8 a.m. CDT.
Dickson’s Poppy Pewitt leads at 3-under 69 when play resumes, one shot better than Hixson’s Carlee Rogers who opened with a 2-under 70.
Brentwood’s Hayden Cherry is alone in 3rd at 1-under 71, followed by Knoxville’s Isabella Coughlin at 1-over 73 and a trio of competitors tied for 5th at 3-over 75 that includes Meredith Eller of Mount Juliet, Sophia Gambini of Maryville and Lakeland’s Claire Todd.
For pairings and live scoring, go to Girls' Junior Results.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com