Kicking off with today’s practice round, the tournament will feature 144 senior and amateur golfers all vying for a shot at the title. Thursday and Friday comprise stroke play qualifying with a reduced field advancing to Saturday and Sunday’s match play to decide the winners.
Four-ball is a golf format that pits two teams of two players against each other. Players play their own ball throughout, and at the end of each hole the lowest score between the two-man team is taken as the team score.
According to the TGA’s website the State Four-Ball began in 1971 with stroke play qualifying at Knoxville’s Cherokee Country Club followed by match play at Fox Den Country Club, where the tournament was held for 14 of the next 15 years. The senior devision was added in 1994.
“We have a big field this year for the event. It’s an honor for the Cleveland Country Club to host, and it shows the good relationship we’ve built with the Tennessee Golf Association in our five year relationship,” stated CCC general manager Lamar Mills.
Several locals make up part of that “big field,” with 15 of the 144 golfers coming from the area. Locals Gerald Burns and Pudgie Payne will be participating in the senior division of the tournament, and Gerald Burrell, Brandon Cissom, Matt Crowder, Cody Godfrey, Matt Hadden, Chris Liner, Chuck Liner, Pat Marcrom, John Maupin, Rick Mays, Bob Rice, Matt Robertson and David Watts will all be playing in the amateur division.
The Country Club will play at approximately 6,600 yards during the Four-Ball Championship and at approximately 6,400 yards during the Senior Four-Ball Championship according to a statement released by the TGA.
CCC has only held the event once before. in 1994, with the team of Pat Corey and Larry White walking away champions of the amateur division and the team of Rex Fraley and Rupert Baker taking the senior championship.
Defending senior champs Bill Argabrite and Tony Green will be looking to repeat last year’s success, but the amateur field is wide open with last year’s winners, Spencer Provow and Craig Smith, not in field.
