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"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch
July 10, 2001
The Chattanooga Men’s Metro championship begins play this
week, but before I talk about that, I want to remind the area’s
better players about the new Chattanooga District Golf Association
Four Ball match play tournament.
Ultimately, participation in the Metro could well determine
whether a two-man team gains entry into the Four Ball event, which
will be played Aug. 24-26 at three different sites, the last of
which is The Honors Course. That alone should guarantee a full
field. The tournament is limited to 32 two-man teams, and the
entry deadline is Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. Details
for entry and a downloadable entry form are on this
web site.
Tournament organizer Mike Jenkins expects more than 32 teams to
enter, which is the reason he’s created a seven-point priority
system. Golfers can assure themselves entry into the tournament by
meeting the criteria of the priority system. Posting a 54-hole
score in the Men’s Metro is one of the criteria.
"The main way a player can guarantee himself a spot is to
post a 54-hole score in the Men’s Metro," Jenkins said.
"We expect this four ball match play tournament to be very
popular, therefore we expect this to begin to have a strong effect
on the Metro beginning next year."
Jenkins has secured the best venues in the city to play host to
the tournament. This year, the first and second rounds will be
played at Lookout Mountain on Friday, August 24. The quarterfinals are set
for Chattanooga Golf and Country Club on Saturday afternoon. And
The Honors, as fine a match play venue as you’ll find, will host
the final two rounds the following day (Sunday, August 26).
Next year, Black Creek has agreed to host the last two rounds,
and in 2003, Council Fire will do the same.
The tournament should generate some excitement among club
players. The teams must be comprised of two players from the same
CDGA club.
"We wanted to promote some inter-club competition,"
Jenkins said. "Each partner must be from the same CDGA club,
and the main trophy will be a traveling trophy that will reside at
the club of the winning team."
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Speaking of inter-club competition, Black Creek will be looking
to defend its title in the team competition at the Metro this
week. The trophy is named for the late Harold Lane, one of the most
talented players in Chattanooga history.
Jenkins, who was paired with Lane and the great Lew Oehmig in a
memorable Men’s Metro Championship in 1978 at Battlefield Golf
Club, has fond memories of
Lane.
"He had the greatest attitude I’ve ever seen on a golf
course," Jenkins said. "I loved to be paired with
Harold. He had a very calming effect on me. I always played better
when I got to play with Harold Lane or Lew Oehmig."
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The 2000 Metro’s individual champion won’t be able to
repeat. That would be Andrew Black, the University of Tennessee
senior who’s playing in the Eastern Amateur this week. The Vols
are encouraged by coach Jim Kelson to play a national amateur
schedule, thus Black’s decision to head to Portsmouth, Va.,
where the 72-hole tournament will be played at Elizabeth Manor.
He’ll be joined there by teammate Jimmy White, who has had a
good summer.
Proof of White’s improvement came last week in a friendly
dogfight at Council Fire, his home club. White shot an incredible
12-under-par 60, easily breaking the course record of 63 set by
Gibby Gilbert III.
White putted everything out, and his scorecard was signed by
former Chattanooga mayor Jon Kinsey, among others. Suffice to say
it was the real deal.
White started out in fine fashion, making a birdie at the par-4
No. 1 hole. He then birdied Nos. 4, 5 and 6 and turned in 32.
White strung together birdies at No. 10 and 11, settled for a
par at No. 12 and then went on a tear, playing the last six holes
in six under.
That sub-par barrage included an eagle at the par-5 13 and
birdies at Nos. 14, 16, 17 and 18. For the day, White was five
under on Council Fire’s five par-5s.
His back nine score added up to 28. I’ll check with White
when he returns from the Eastern Amateur and find out how close he
was to shooting a magical 59.
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