Lucas Tabor, left, and partner Boddie Bible lead after the first day of stroke play at the Tennessee Four-Ball
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Never underestimate the impact of a home field advantage in a sporting event.
With the 55th Tennessee Four-Ball Championship returning to The Country Club in Morristown, Lucas Tabor of Talbott and Boddie Bible of Newport capitalized on their familiarity with their home course to grab a two-shot lead on the first of two days of stroke play qualifying on Monday.
The duo combined to birdie their first six holes to shoot 30 over their first nine holes, then punctuated the back side when Tabor eagled the par-5 16th on their way to a 10-under 62 to take the first-round lead.
Carson Andreoni of Jackson got his team off to a fast start with an eagle on the opening hole as he and Selmer’s Casen Justice are in second at 8-under 64. Andreoni also added six birdies to the 3 he carded on the par-5 first hole.
Three teams are tied in third place at 7-under 65 led by two-time champion Jack Smith, who is seeking to pair with fellow Knoxville resident Chas Narramore after winning titles with Ryan Greer in 2016 and 2021. Birdies on four of five holes late in their round was dampened by a bogey on 18.
Clinton’s Alex Gaetz had five birdies to combine with Kevin Campbell of Morristown with a score of 65, joined by Morristown duo PJ Smith and Andrew Price who blistered the front side of their home course in 30 before shooting 35 on the homeward nine.
Deadlocked in sixth at 6-under 66 are Powell’s Bryce Kendrick and Josh Wheeler of Athens in addition to a pairing of Knoxville golfers in Jacob Rose and Tate Woodruff.
Sitting five shots off the lead tied for eighth are a trio of teams that includes Cody Johnson of Knoxville and Andrew Hall of Maryville; Lee University teammates Jaxon Reed of Crossville and Mitchell Strickland of Punta Gorda, Fla.; and Cash Hendon of Nashville and Alex Hamm of Brentwood.
The final stroke play round will take place on Tuesday, with the top 16 teams advancing into the match play portion of the event. Wednesday will feature both the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, followed by the Semifinals and Championship Final on Thursday.
For complete results, go to Tennessee Four-Ball.
Tickets Punched To U.S. Mid-Amateur
Jeff Reuter of Humboldt punched his ticket to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship on Monday, earning co-medalist honors at a qualifier held at Chickasaw Country Club in Memphis.
Reuter compiled six birdies on his way to shooting 4-under 68, equaling John Snoddy of Vestavia, Ala. for the day’s low round. Chris Rockwell of Franklin secured the final qualifying spot by shooting 31 over his last nine holes, finishing at 3-under 69 and advancing in a playoff over 1st Alternate Brendan Gillis of Nashville.
Clarksville’s Caroline Ludwikowski was the lone qualifier in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, advancing for the second straight year after turning 25 last year. Ludwikowski posted a 2-over 74 to win by two-shots over Chattanooga’s Ciara Smith, who is 1st Alternate after carding a 4-over 76.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
Carson Andreoni follows the flight of his opening tee shot while teammate Casen Justice looks on
photo by Tennessee Golf Association