Nuttall, Wolcott Share Lead At Tennessee Assistant PGA Championship

Matthew Nuttall and Ben Wolcott were the first day pacesetters at the Tennessee Assistant PGA Professional Championship after posting rounds of 5-under 67, leading by one shot over a pair of golfers at 4-under 68 that includes defending champion Brad Hawkins.

Nuttall got off to a blazing start with birdies on three of his first four holes at Franklin’s Westhaven Golf Club before making the turn at 4-under. The Honors Course assistant moved to 7-under after three straight birdies starting at No. 14, only to give back two shots with a double bogey on the final hole.

Wolcott was 3-under at the turn before stumbling with bogeys at 11 and 12. But the GreyStone Golf Club assistant rallied to birdie four of his last five holes to earn a share of the lead.

Hawkins, who is an assistant as Beaver Brook Golf & Country Club, carded five birdies and a lone bogey on his round as he seeks to become the first back-to-back winner in this event since Casey Flenniken accomplished that feat in 2017-18.

Joining Hawkins at 4-under was Jordan Harre of Vanderbilt Legends Club, who also recorded five birdies with one bogey.

Griffin Hare of Council Fire Club is alone in 5^th place at 3-under 69, one shot better than Blackthorn Club’s Ethan Burger who shot 2-under 70 to occupy the 6^th spot.

The event also serves as a national qualifier with the top three finishers advancing to the 2025 Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club on Nov. 13-16. There will also be three alternates named for the national tournament.

Herring Leads by 3 at Tennessee Senior PGA Pro Event

Virgil Herring parlayed an eagle coupled with five birdies to grab the lead after the opening round of the Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship, seizing a three-shot lead after finishing at 6-under 66.

The Ensworth Golf Center professional tallied a 3 on the 553-yard par-5 6^th hole at Westhaven, then closed with a pair of birdies on his final two holes to finish his round with a flurry.

Defending champion Jared Melson of Bear Trace at Tims Ford is among a group of five golfers tied for 2^nd at 3-under 69. Joining Melson three behind Herring are Paul Reid of Ladd’s Golf & Utility, Kevin Snell of Tennessee Golf Trail at Henry Horton, Audie Johnson of McCabe Golf Course, and Henrik Simonsen of The Honor Course.

With the top five finishers following Tuesday’s final round qualifying for the Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club on Oct. 23-26 and four Alternates being named, three golfers are tied for 7^th at 2-under 70. Included in that trio are Oliver Peacock of Belle Meade Country Club, Jackson National Golf Club’s Mike Vance, and Paul Brannon of GOLFTEC Nashville.

Council Fire’s Chris DeBusk, Gallatin’s Mark Houser, Greg Wyatt of Golf Capital Learning Center, and Allen Fennell of Tennessee Golf Trail at Warriors Path are all deadlocked at 1-under 71 in a tie for 10^th.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com