Worley, Carter Combine To Win State Mid-Amateur Four-Ball

Brandon Worley and Austin Carter had played countless rounds of golf together over the years in the Tri-Cities area, but they had never teamed up to compete in a statewide event.

Based on this weekend’s performance in the 5^th Tennessee Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship on the River Course at Sevierville Golf Club, expect the duo to become a fixture at future events whenever possible.

Worley of Johnson City and Kingsport’s Carter shot 18-under par 126 to win by three shots, following Saturday’s blistering 59 with a 67 in Sunday’s windy conditions.

The victory is Worley’s second Tennessee Golf Association victory, having teamed with Cayman Ratliff to claim the 2018 Tennessee Four-Ball title.

Worley had taken a sabbatical for several years from competing in statewide tournaments after college, again ramping up his schedule last year by playing in local events that included a win at the Tillinghast Invitational at Johnson City Country Club.

“I just didn't play tournaments for a few years as the desire just wasn’t there,” Worley said. “Then I slowly worked my way back, and I played a full local schedule last year, and I was able to be successful in those tournaments. This one was pretty close to home, so Austin and I decided to sign up. I'm glad we did.

“We definitely make a good team. I hit it pretty straight and keep it in play, and he rolls the putter extremely well. It makes for a great combination.”

Carter is in the midst of attending medical school in Kentucky following playing golf collegiately at East Tennessee State, so his time on the links is limited.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join Brandon for the State Four-Ball because of med school, as it’s a demanding schedule,” Carter said. “I can play some summer events, but we’ll be back teaming up going forward whenever we can.”

Worley and Carter entered the day owning a four-shot lead over playing partners Anthony Basilio and Cody Johnson of Knoxville. They maintained a lead of three strokes at the turn after Worley chipped in for birdie on No. 9 before things got interesting.

After matching birdies at 10 and 13, Johnson rolled in a pair of long birdies on 15 and 16 to trim the deficit to a single shot heading to the par 3 17^th.

“We knew we needed to step up and just hit a golf shot,” Worley said. “Both of us had it right at the pin inside 12 feet. Austin went first and made his, and Cody had about a nine-footer for birdie that lipped out.”

Down by two needing an eagle on the 538-yard par-5 final hole, Basilio and Johnson closed with a par while Carter recorded his second straight birdie to seal the outcome.

“It was kind of a stress-free finish once Austin hit that second shot on 18,” Worley said. “Things had gotten sort of tense a few minutes earlier, but at that point we knew we had it. It was very relieving.”

Johnson’s five birdies on Sunday led his team to the day’s low round of 66 to finish at 15-under 129, four shots clear of third-place finishers Tory Davis of Johnson City and Knoxville’s Tanner Davis who posted a 67 to close at 11-under 133 after Tanner Davis eagled the last hole.

Knoxville’s Brad Burling and Sewanee’s Taylor Mottern were fourth at 10-under 134, one shot better than the 9-under 135 turned in by Nashville’s Jordan Thomas and Franklin’s Justin White.

Tied for sixth at 8-under 136 were Buzz Fly of Memphis and Germantown’s Winston Margaritis along with Knoxville’s Kory Webb and Franklin’s Michael Monroe.

Rounding out the top 10 were four teams tied for eighth at 7-under 137. Included among those finishers were Scotty Hudson and Jake Fait of Nashville, Pigeon Forge’s Eric Russell and Brent McMahan of Sevierville, Mitchell Thomas of Knoxville and Chip Thomas of Chattanooga, and J.J. Fought of Antioch and College Grove’s Garrett Marschke.

For complete results, go to Tn Mid-Am Four-Ball results.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com