Alli Troxell, left, and Addisyn Newman lead after the opening round of the Tennessee Women's Four-Ball
photo by Contributed
Addisyn Newman and Alli Troxell might need some assistance if they are able to maintain their first-round lead following the conclusion of the 30th Tennessee Women’s Four-Ball Championship.
While the pair of rising stars among girls’ junior golf has gained plenty of experience driving around a golf cart early in their promising careers, they will need a chauffeur to get them to any post-tournament celebration. You see, neither one of them is old enough to obtain a driver’s license yet.
Newman, a sophomore at Knoxville’s Hardin Valley Academy, and Troxell, entering her freshman year at Chattanooga’s Boyd-Buchanan School, showed off abilities beyond their youthful ages on Wednesday at Hermitage Golf Course’s General’s Retreat. They combined to shoot 5-under 67 to grab a two-shot lead in the Championship Division.
Newman opened with a pair of birdies on the first two holes among her five on the round, and Troxell supplied a birdie of her own to thrust the teen phenoms to the top of the leaderboard.
Close behind in second at 3-under 69 are the team of Michelle Dodson of McMinnville and College Grove’s Rachel Ellis along with the duo of Karen Richards and Danna Raube of Franklin.
Cookeville’s Nikki Orazine and Sonya Briggs are alone in fourth at even par 72, one shot better than defending champions Beth Underhill of McMinnville and Kylie Crouch of Cookeville who posted a 1-over 73.
Leading the Senior competition are Shelly Steel of Fairview and Karin Rader-Carson of Kingston Springs at 2-under 70, while Julie Carlton of Hermitage and Erica Chappell of Nashville are in second with a score of 1-under 71.
Three teams are tied for third at 2-over 74 that includes Knoxville’s Robin Banner and Susan Miller of Loudon, Helen Holland and Noni Nielsen of Nashville, as well as Crossville’s Sandie Baillie and Tina Wheeler of Old Hickory.
The final round of the 36-hole event will take place with a shotgun start Thursday morning at 8 CDT.
For complete results, go to Tennessee Women's Four-Ball.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com