Andrew Weathers Wins Men’s Metro For Third Time

Having grown up in Chattanooga, Andrew Weathers has known about the significance of the Chattanooga Men’s Metro tournament since his earliest playing days.

He first played in the event at Lookout Mountain Club in 2013 following his senior year at McCallie School, and has been a regular participant ever since. He broke through with a victory in 2017 at Black Creek Club during his years competing at UTC, and it served as one of the hallmark wins of his young career.

But Weathers has found a different gear when it comes to the Men’s Metro of late. After winning at Lookout Mountain Club last year, he backed that up on Saturday with a repeat at Brown Acres Golf Course to claim his third Regular division crown with a four-shot cushion.

Weathers now finds himself among a select company of those who have won this prestigious tournament three times that dates back to 1929, joining Andrew Black, Harold Lane, Ira Templeton, Wesley Brown and Willard Miller.

“It's awesome anytime you can go back-to-back in any tournament,” Weathers said. “It's especially cool for it to happen in the Metro, so I’m pumped to do it. I’m excited for it to be at my home course at Council Fire next year, and hopefully I can get the three-peat.”

Weathers posted his second straight round of 67 to finish at 10-under 134, four shots clear of 2^nd place finishers Hunter Vest and Jacob Clark who closed with scores of 6-under 138.

Weathers cruised through the first 30 holes of the tournament without a single bogey at 8-under until a late charge by Clark trimmed the margin to two with three holes to play. While Clark and Vest both birdied the par-5 16^th, Weathers sealed the outcome with an eagle.

“I had to hold off Jacob there at the end as he made a nice run,” Weathers said. “I needed to make birdie on 16, and was lucky to make a 40-foot eagle putt which definitely helped.”

Weathers closed out his two days with a final birdie at 18 to finish his pair of rounds with nine birdies and an eagle while recording only one bogey.

“I hit my driver really well, and I didn't put myself in too many spots where I couldn't go for the greens,” Weathers said. “Also, I feel like I'm a good wedge player, and there's a lot of wedges out there when you hit good drives. I felt like those two things were definitely the keys for this weekend’s success.”

Keoni Vidrine placed 4^th with a total of 3-under 141, one shot better than Mike Dunn and Brandon Cissom who tied for 5^th at 2-under 142.

With some health issues limiting Weathers’ tournament schedule this summer, he was hoping to use the Metro as a tune-up for some other upcoming events. But the weekend produced a much better result than he had anticipated.

“I was trying to get some momentum heading out to Arkansas next week for a U.S. Mid-Am qualifier,” Weathers said. “I wanted to get a good tournament under my belt, and I felt I did some good things this week to build on next week.”

Weldon Claims Senior Division Title

Shonn Weldon was able to build a three-shot lead early in Saturday’s final round in the Senior division, then withstood a late charge by playing Rick Mays and Joe Markham Jr. to win by one shot.

Weldon entered the day tied at 4-under with playing partner Mays, while Markham was four strokes back competing two groups ahead. Mays encountered some early struggles, carding five bogeys in his opening nine with only two birdies to drop to 1-under at the turn. Meanwhile, Weldon cruised through the front side in even par.

Markham began his charge with birdies on 2 and 3, then added three more birdies on the front nine that were offset by a pair of bogeys to pull within two shots of Weldon.

Markham eventually pulled even with another birdie at 12 coupled with a bogey from Weldon at 10 and the pair remained tied for four holes later when Markham birdied 16 and Weldon did the same at 14.

But a critical bogey on No. 17 dropped Marham back to 3-under, and he closed his round of 69 with a par at the final hole. Meanwhile, Weldon was able to make it home with pars on his last four holes, clinging to a one-shot margin when Mays birdied the 16^th but could draw no closer.

Weldon shot 72 on the day to finish at 4-under 140, just ahead of the 3-under 141 scores turned in by Mays and Markham.

Richard Keene finished 4^th at 2-under 142 with consecutive rounds of 71, while Tom Schreiner and Brent Henley tied for 5^th at 1-over 145.

Steve Johnson, who won this event last year at his home course of Lookout Mountain Club, finished at 2-over 146 which was good for 7^th place.

Douglas Wins Super Senior In Playoff

Bret Douglas took home the hardware in the Super Senior division after defeating Tom Baird on the second playoff hole. Both golfers completed their 36-holes in 1-over 145 with some clutch birdies down the stretch.

Douglas entered Saturday’s play with a one-shot lead over Baird, maintaining that advantage as both golfers played their opening nine holes in 2-over 37. But consecutive bogeys to open the back nine left dropped Douglas one behind Baird.

A pivotal birdie at the par-5 12^th once again deadlocked the combatants before Baird ended a streak of nine straight pars with a birdie at 16 to regain the advantage. Undaunted, Douglas rallied to drain a birdie of his own at 17, and two pars at the final hole forced the playoff.

After both golfers parred No. 1 in the playoff, Douglas was able to win the title with a par on the second hole for the win. Douglas ended up shooting 74 on his final round, while Baird was one better with a 73.

Defending champion Richard Brame entered the day four shots back, but made a strong run with a final round 71 to close at 2-over 146 to miss the playoff by a single shot.

Tony Autry placed 4^th at 3-over 147, followed by Jim Lett with a final count of 4-over 148 for the 5^th position.

For complete results, go to Chattanooga Men's Metro.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com