Narramore, Smith Combine To Claim Tennessee Four-Ball Title

It had been a number of years – 21 to be exact – since Chas Narramore cradled a trophy signifying a Tennessee Golf Association championship. He was 17-years-old when he won the 2004 Tennessee Junior Amateur at Willow Creek Golf Club, a seminal moment that would lead to a winding odyssey in golf that continues today.

But Thursday afternoon at The Country Club, Inc. in Morristown, Narramore once again laid his hands on a TGA tournament prize – this time, the Orvis Milner Trophy – a hard-fought reward earned over four days while partnering with fellow Knoxville resident Jack Smith in capturing the 55^th Tennessee Four-Ball Championship.

While it had been a long time between titles for Narramore, winning this tournament is becoming old hat for Smith. It was the third time the 30-year-old has won this tournament, joining an elite list that includes Ed Brantly, Rob Long, Steve Golliher, Larry White and Jeff Golliher as three-time champions. Lookout Mountain’s Pat Corey is the only golfer with four State Four-Ball crowns to his name, those coming in 1987, 1989, 1992 and 1994.

Smith, who played collegiately at Tennessee, picked up his two previous wins in 2016 and 2021 while paired with Ryan Greer, both of those taking place at Chattanooga’s Black Creek Club.

Narramore and Smith combined to win their last three holes with birdies in the championship match, extending a 1 up lead after 12 to ultimately defeat Lawrence Largent of Kingsport and Jack Rhea of Johnson City, 4 and 3.

“Jack's now won three of them, so it was good to saddle him up and be his partner,” Narramore said. “We had a really good time this week.”

It was the second victory for the duo, winning their first time together in the Holston Hills Mid-Amateur Four-Ball last fall. There is something about competing in four-ball events that brings out the best in each other.

“I was thinking earlier having now won three of these that I don't really know what it is about four-balls that suits my game,” Smith said. “I enjoy playing them, but I can't really say why I've had success.”

Narramore also relishes the team aspects of playing in four-ball events.

“I don't play my own ball very often,” Narramore said. “I'm a team player, which is why I like four-balls. I feel like both of us are really good ball strikers. It makes it a lot easier, if you do hit a bad shot, you know your partner's got your back.”

Smith and Narramore made the turn in the championship match with a 2 up advantage after finding themselves 1 down through four holes. Smith drained a winning birdie on eight from 25 feet, and Narramore stuck his tee shot to two feet on the par 3 ninth for wins.

Rhea rolled in a birdie on twelve to cut the deficit in half, but Narramore birdied No. 13 to again go 2 up. Their momentum continued when Smith chipped in for birdie on 14, and he secured the title by draining a five-foot birdie putt on 15.

“When Jack chipped in for birdie, that was massive,” Narramore said. “It definitely felt like the closing of the door on them to put us 3 up. He took control of the match and finished it off.”

In their earlier semifinal match, Smith and Narramore held a 2 up lead after ten holes against Cody Johnson of Knoxville and Andrew Hall of Maryville, only to have Hall win at 11 and 13 with birdies to square the match.

The two teams drew even on the next four holes, headed to No. 18 still tied. But a birdie on the last hole propelled Smith and Narramore into the championship match.

The other semifinal saw Largent and Rhea 1 down through ten holes to Nashville’s Cash Hendon and Alex Hamm of Brentwood. But a birdie at No. 11 by Rhea evened the score, and consecutive birdies from Largent at 14 and 15 propelled them to a 2 up advantage.

Hamm birdied 16 to cut their deficit in half. After both teams parred 17, Rhea’s birdie at 18 closed out a 2 up victory and a trip to the finals.

After entering match play as the 11^th seed, Smith and Narramore were dominant in their opening two matches on Wednesday. They strung together a run of 13 consecutive birdies overlapping the two rounds, shooting 19-under across 28 holes.

With Smith picking up his fourth TGA title, having also won the 2013 Parent-Child Championship with his father, Scott, there is a sense of satisfaction in adding to his trophy case.

“Winning a state title is pretty meaningful,” Smith said. “It’s definitely the aim every time you sign up and every time you go out there and tee it up. So, to be able to get it done this week is a pretty good accomplishment. There were plenty of good players in that field, so we had to play well to be able to pull this off.”

The victory also provided Narramore with a full-circle moment since his last TGA win. It was that Junior Amateur victory that propelled him to playing in college at Middle Tennessee State. He became the first men’s golfer in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championships as an individual in 2007 before leading the Blue Raiders to their first team appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2008.

After playing professionally for ten years on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, he spent time coaching at his alma mater and several years with the Tennessee women’s program. He now uses his experience to operate Back Nine Coaching, a program to help junior golfers with the recruiting process from high school to college.

“That was a long time ago since I won that first one,” Narramore said. “It was obviously really meaningful, because it got me a scholarship to play at Middle Tennessee State. Golf has been good to me having played professionally for 10 years, and having the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level. It's been a while since I got to play some amateur events, but it's good to win another one of these.”

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com