"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

July 8, 2003

Ricky Honeycutt, who will be trying to win his third local "major'' this weekend in the Chattanooga Men's Metro, may turn down UTC and Carson-Newman to play golf at his father's alma mater -- the University of Tennessee.

Honeycutt has a chance to make golf history this summer, resuming his quest this weekend at the Moccasin Bend Golf Club when he tees off Friday in the Chattanooga Men's Metro.

The son of former major league pitcher Rick Honeycutt has already won the Signal Mountain Invitational and the Red Bud Invitational. No golfer has ever won the four "old'' majors in Chattanooga (Signal, Red Bud, Metro and Brainerd). Of course, the success of the season-ending Chattanooga TPC has now lifted that event into the status of a Chattanooga major as well.

"I really haven't thought about winning all of the local tournaments,'' Honeycutt said Tuesday. "But up at the Four-Ball, Randy Yoder wanted to know if I knew who the last old guy was to win Signal Mountain and the Red Bud. He said, 'It was me, you're in good company.'

"I did win a junior tournament once at Brainerd and when I was at Baylor we always practiced at Moccasin Bend. There really is not a whole lot to it.''

Honeycutt played a practice round on Tuesday with his father for this week's (Wednesday-Thursday) State Father-Son Tournament at The Honors Course.

"My swing is still there, but not as consistent as at the Red Bud,'' Honeycutt said. "The key at Moccasin Bend is making putts, and I'm sure the greens will be quicker than ever. I'll just try to hit it straight and hard and make putts.''

Honeycutt, who still has two years of college eligibility left, was planning to sign with either UTC or Carson-Newman. Things may have changed, however.

"UT is sneaking in there,'' Honeycutt said. "UT signs their people early, and I wasn't playing very well in the fall. He signed all his guys and then when I started playing well in the spring he wanted me to visit.

"They are interested in me, but can't guarantee a spot on the team. I would have to bust my butt to get on the team, but if I'm playing good enough I can play up there.''

Honeycutt said his father, who played baseball at Tennessee, will call a couple of coaches this week.

"Then I hope to make a decision,'' said Honeycutt, who leads the Pro Golf Superstore--www.chattanoogatpc.com Top 20 points standings by 56 over Patrick Williams. "Maybe by Thursday or Friday.''

CHATTANOOGATPC.COM GOLF NOTEBOOK:

√ Moccasin Bend pro Devere Keller is very excited about playing host Friday through Sunday to the Metro. The field includes 106 players.

"The course is in great shape,'' Keller said Tuesday. "The fairways are the best in town, maybe in the United States. They are perfect. The rough is thick and solid and the greens have come full circle in the last 10 months. They are good and rolling true.

"In the last week we've got the sand traps great. The whole course is in good shape. I've got no complaints. We're excited to have the course in such good condition for the Metro.''

√ CDGA officer Mike Jenkins predicts a Metro shootout between Honeycutt and Andrew Black. And don't forget about defending champion Kevin Law, who is always a threat in local tournaments.

√ Pat Corey won the Metro the last time it was played at Moccasin Bend.

√ The senior division for the Metro includes several quality players, including David Lawson, Charlie Soule, Rick Crawford and Gary Haskew.

√ The Men's Metro is a CDGA fundraiser for monies it gives to local high school golf teams, the UTC golf program, and First Tee.

√ UTC golf coach Reed Sanderlin recently underwent surgery for lung cancer. He returned home Monday, July 7, saying that he was "very fortunate.''

Doctors removed a tumor from the left lobe of his left lung.

"It had not gone outside there and was not attached to any other structures,'' Sanderlin said Tuesday. "I'm not supposed to drive for three weeks while I recover and then I go back in August to the doctor.

"Right now, we don't think there will be a need for any chemo. I'm just glad I've got (UTC assistant coach) Mark Guhne handling everything this summer. I think I'll be ready when school opens.''

E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net.

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