Baylor's Carlee Rogers is the first round leader at the Girls' Tennessee Junior PGA Championship
photo by Contributed
It’s often referred to as “Golf’s Longest Day”, where 878 amateurs and professionals compete over 36 holes at ten Final Qualifying sites for the chance to earn a coveted spot in the U.S. Open.
Former Vanderbilt golfer Harrison Ott, who now resides in Franklin, was the lone golfer with Tennessee connections to punch his ticket to the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. from June 12-15.
Ott shot 6-under 138 to place fifth as six spots advanced from the Columbus, Ohio qualifier, finishing one shot ahead of PGA Tour veterans Max Homa and Rickie Fowler and two clear of Padraig Harrington.
Ott joins a pair of collegiate players from the Volunteer State that claimed a berth in an earlier qualifier in Dallas. Rising University of Tennessee senior Lance Simpson of Knoxville – the 2022 Tennessee Amateur champion - and Ole Miss golfer Cameron Tankersley of Dickson tied for fourth at 8-under par 134 at final qualifying staged on May 19th.
Also in contention is 18-year-old Nashville phenom Blades Brown, who turned professional last December. Brown is tied for third at 7-under through 27 holes as four will advance from the West Palm Beach, Fla. qualifier that will conclude on Tuesday after bad weather suspended play.
Spring Hill’s Dawson Armstrong was one of four golfers tied for the final spot in the Springfield, Ohio qualifier at 4-under 136, but did not advance after losing in a playoff.
Recent University of Tennessee at Chattanooga graduate Garrett Engle is second alternate after posting a 4-under 138 in the Summit, N.J. qualifier where the top four advanced.
A pair of former Baylor School golfers who are stalwarts on the PGA Tour failed to advance in the Ontario, Canada qualifier. With seven moving on to Oakmont with a cut of 6-under, Luke List recorded a 1-under 139 while Keith Mitchell was another shot back at even par 140.
Those who failed to advance from the qualifier held at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta were Davis Shore (Knoxville) at 6-under 138, amateur Christian Pardue (Arlington) at 1-under 143, amateur Kaleb Wilson (Knoxville) at even 144, and amateur Billy Boroughs (Chattanooga) at 8-over 152.
Four golfers missed the cut at the Springfield, Ohio qualifier including Nashville PGA Tour veteran Brandt Snedeker at even par 140, Steven Locke (Cleveland) at 12-over 152, Nicklaus Sutton (Nashville) at 23-over 163 and amateur Lowery Thomas (Old Hickory) did not finish.
Defending Tennessee State Open champion and Tennessee golfer Jackson Herrington (Dickson) was five off the cut after shooting 2-over 144 in Rockville, Md., while Richard Lamb (Nashville) failed to advance in Durham, N.C. after posting a 2-over 142. Also, former UTC standout Samuel Espinosa-Trueba failed to qualify after carding a 2-over 146 in Columbus, Ohio.
In the suspended West Palm Beach qualifier, Hendersonville’s Jacob Sherlin is 2-over through 28 holes while Knoxville’s Jake Hall did not finish.
Froio, Rogers Lead Tennessee Junior PGA Championship
Leo Froio shot an opening round 7-under 65 to lead after the first round of the Boys’ Tennessee Junior PGA Championship at Murfreesboro’s Old Fort Golf Course. The rising senior at Battle Ground Academy tallied six birdies and an eagle to lead by two shots heading into Tuesday’s final round.
Bayden Bennett of College Grove sits in second at 5-under 67, followed by six golfers at 4-under 68 that includes Maryville’s Raymond ReBell, Andrew Sciortino of Brentwood, Jake Eickhoff of Arrington and a trio of Franklin residents in Will Pinson, Jackson Lively and Ben Blackburn.
Carlee Rogers of Hixson leads the girls’ competition after posting a 5-under 67. The rising Baylor School senior and Miami commit recorded five birdies and an eagle on her round to own a four-shot advantage.
Knoxville’s Addisyn Newman and Aliezah Robinson of Kingsport are tied for second at 1-under 71, one shot clear of three golfers at even par 72 that includes Poppy Pewitt of Dickson, Reese Rexroat of Hendersonville and Lauren Davis of Knoxville.
The top two finishers in the Overall Boys and Girls divisions will qualify for the 2025 Junior PGA Championship at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. on July 29- August 1, 2025. Five alternates will also be determined in each overall division.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com