Lance Simpson hopes to continue his recent hot streak at the Southern Amateur
photo by University of Tennessee
Five members of the University of Tennessee golf team will be among the 156 participants competing in the 119th Southern Amateur Championship this week at Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Ark. starting Wednesday morning.
The strong field features 76 of the top 300 amateurs in the world in the 72-hole tournament, including Jase Summy who is ranked 9th and Josiah Gilbert who is ranked 10th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
This marks the fourth year the Southern Amateur is part of the Elite Amateur Golf Series, a series of events designed to attract “the best of the best” in amateur golf. In addition to the Southern Amateur, the Elite Amateur Golf Series hosts the Sunnehanna Amateur, Northeast Amateur, North & South Amateur, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur and Western Amateur.
Knoxville’s Lance Simpson is one of the five Vols in the field, coming off his recent win in the Trans-Mississippi showcase. Simpson is joined by teammates Jackson Herrington of Dickson, Evan Woosley-Reed of Knoxville, Bruce Murphy of John’s Creek, Ga. and Josh Hill, who hails from Dubai.
Also participating is Ole Miss golfer Cameron Tankersley of Dickson, who has already secured his spot in the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco along with Simpson and Herrington. Others from the Volunteer State are Austin Peay golfer Patton Samuels of Clarksville and Hudson Wilt of Nashville, who plays collegiately for Texas Christian.
The Southern Amateur Championship was first played in 1902 at Nashville Golf & Country Club in Nashville, Tenn. A.F. Schwartz of New Orleans, La. defeated Percy Whitling 4 and 2 to win the inaugural event. Charles Howell III of Augusta, Georgia holds the record for most-won Championships with three victories (1994-1996).
The field will be cut to the low 50 scores and ties after Thursday’s round.
For live scoring and pairings, go to Southern Amateur.
Darkness Delays Pewitt’s Round at U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur
Poppy Pewitt had the goal to still be playing when Wednesday rolled around at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur. But the Dickson native had hoped it would come as a result of advancing to match play following two days of stroke play.
The 15-year-old Tennessee Girls’ Junor Amateur champion had her second round on Tuesday suspended by darkness, prompting her to join 23 other golfers who will return to Atlanta Athletic Club to finish play Wednesday morning.
Pewitt had a better showing after opening play with a score of 9-over 80 on Monday. She was 3-over on her round through 15 holes, but her total of 12-over left her distanced from the expected cut line of 6-over that will advance 64 golfers into Wednesday’s match play bracket.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com