Todd Burgan, shown at last year's U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course, returns to action after surgery at this week's Tennessee Mid-Amateur Championship
photo by Tennessee Golf Association
Last year was a dream come true for Todd Burgan, one that he hoped to build on this year.
After turning 55 in April of 2024, Burgan shifted his focus in dividing his competitive schedule between senior events and mid-amateur tournaments. He wasted no time excelling in his new age group, eventually winning Tennessee Senior Men’s Player of the Year honors in his first year of eligibility.
The Powell native had eight Top 5 finishes in eleven stroke play events. Burgan also was named co-champion of the Tennessee Senior Match Play Championship and advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course.
Burgan also achieved a goal in etching his name among some elite company. After winning the Men’s Regular Player of the Year in 2011, Burgan joined Tim Jackson and Danny Green as the only golfers to earn the distinction in both categories since recognition for Senior players began in 1993.
Riding the crest of his accomplishments in 2024, Burgan had big plans to continue that momentum into this year. However, his plans took an unexpected detour in February when he received the sobering news of a prostate cancer diagnosis that resulted in a surgical procedure in May.
“Anytime something like that happens you take stock in what's really important,” Burgan said. “Spending time with your family becomes a priority as you face your own mortality. It puts things in perspective where a golf tournament isn’t quite as important as it used to be.”
The schedule for this year was one Burgan was excited about. The Tennessee State Amateur was happening at his home golf course at Holston Hills, and the Tennessee Senior Amateur was being held at one of his favorite courses in Belle Meade.
After spending the summer recuperating from his surgery, Burgan is now ready to tee it up and compete again. It’s almost poetic that he has chosen the 38th Tennessee Mid-Amateur Championship as his coming out party given the fact four of his seven Tennessee Golf Association titles have been won at this tournament.
“it's been a good target for me to make my return,” Burgan said. “I'd like to try to win a fifth title, but I'm getting up there in age so I don't know how many more years I can compete with those guys. I have played very little golf, but I was able to play my first round (Sunday). My body is getting back close to 100% without pain and restrictions, but I’m very rusty.”
Burgan is eager to return to the competitive arena and reconnect with the close community of fellow golfers this week. But he’s tempering his expectations.
“To be honest with you, for the first time in I don’t know how long I don’t really have a goal this week,” Burgan said. “I just want to go out and enjoy myself and hit some good golf shots. It would be nice to get myself in contention, but if I don't, that's okay. This first tournament's going to be more about just getting back into the swing of things. I'm happy I can do it at this tournament, because I've had so much success over the years playing in this tournament.”
With the event being staged at Tennessee National Golf Club for the first time, the 54 holes of stroke play is set to begin play on Monday morning and run through Wednesday. The field will be cut to the low 30 and ties after 36 holes.
In last October’s tournament won by Winston Margaritis by four shots as the lone golfer under par at Jackson Country Club, the Germantown resident was competing in his first mid-amateur event after turning 25 less than four months earlier.
Other former champions in the field are 2018 winner Ryan Terry of Nashville and Brendon Wilson, who won in 2022 playing out of Chattanooga’s Council Fire Club.
Jackson picked up six State Mid-Am wins over the course of his illustrious career, just ahead of the four bagged by Burgan and Green. Clarksville’s Rob Long and Richard Keene of Chattanooga each have won three apiece.
For pairings and results, go to Tennessee Mid-Amateur.
Tennessee PGA Professional Championship Starts Monday
This week will also feature the 57th Tennessee PGA Professional Championship which will be held at The Links at Kahite Golf Club at Tellico Village. The 54-hole premier for Tennessee Club Professionals runs Monday through Wednesday, awarding four qualifying spots in the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort next April.
Defending champion Josh Bevell of Nashville’s Profectus Golf returns to Kahite after an outstanding 2024 season, aiming to defend his crown and once again earn a trip to the national stage. Bevell will face a strong field, including past champion Johan Kok of Troubadour Golf and Field Club, who has claimed four Tennessee PGA Professional titles by winning four in a row from 2017–2020. Kok hopes to tie the all-time record of five wins held by Joe Campbell and Gibby Gilbert Jr., and enters the week in strong form after finishing runner-up in the recent Goat Turf Players Championship.
The championship field also includes four-time champion Kelvin Burgin of Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain (2006, 2007, 2008, 2013) and three-time winners Scott Moran of Cutter & Buck (2009, 2012, 2014) and Loren Personett of Mt. Juliet (2003, 2015, 2021). Other previous champions in the field are Oliver Peacock of Belle Meade Country Club (2016), Audie Johnson of McCabe Golf Course (2011), and Casey Flenniken of Tanasi Golf Course (2022, 2023).
Play begins at 8:30 A.M. CT each day, with a single tee start off No. 1. Following the first two rounds, the field will be repaired by score, with leaders teeing off last. The champion will be crowned in a trophy presentation by the clubhouse following the final round.
For pairings and results, go to Tennessee PGA Professional Championship.
Women’s Four-Ball Begins Wednesday at Hermitage
The 30th Tennessee Women’s Four-Ball Championship will be hosted by Hermitage Golf Course’s General’s Retreat on Wednesday and Thursday. The 36-hole championship will feature a shotgun start on both days with the field flighted based on the first-round team score.
Beth Underhill of McMinnville and Kylie Crouch of Cookeville will return to defend their title from last year, winning by eight shots with a final score of even par.
Shelley Anderson of Clarksville’s five championships won between 1996-2005 is the most in the tournament’s history. The pairing of Hanley Long of Clarksville and Jenna Burris of Manchester teamed to win four each in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
For pairings and complete results, go to Tennessee Women's Four-Ball.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com