By Hank Shackelford
For Zack Morton you shoot a 78 and survive a 7-man playoff that lasts over two days and two golf courses. Zack won his playoff that began at 6:45am at Woodland Hills on the first playoff hole. That victory pitted him against Jeff Reuter, the #1 seed. Zack took Jeff to the 18th hole losing 2 down.
What if you are the defending Stone Cup Champion, Aaron Ingalls. You have won the Tennessee Amateur Championship in 2018, the Stone Cup in 2019 and the Jackson Country Club Championship in 2018 and 2019. AND, you are selected to be on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Golf Association.
You draw 15-year old Trace Robinson from the Trinity Christian School Lions. Sure, Trace has got his Dad and golf coach caddying for him and his Mom walking every hole urging her son on, but no problem right.
Tell that to Aaron who finds himself 2 down with 2 to play. Aaron proceeds to birdie 17 and 18 to force extra holes (Trace lipped his putt out to win the match on 18) and drains a 15 foot par putt on the first playoff hole to win the match. Well done, Trace Robinson, you took one of the better golfers in the State of Tennessee to extras holes. Trace did not lose the match, Aaron just dug deep and won it.
Congrats to Coach Robinson and Mom Robinson, Trace lost with grace. He did not like it, but he accepted it and he will use this as a building block to get better. Congrats to Aaron. You were gracious and encouraging in victory, just like a Director of the Tennessee Golf Association is supposed to be. Also, Aaron watch out, Trace is only going to get better and he will never forget this.
Aaron gets all of about five minutes to gulp down a Gator Aid before he is back on the course in the second round match against Cal Templeton, a veteran Stone Cup participant and great player for Union University who came back to defeat his Union teammate, Cooper Pedergrass 1 up in his morning match. Back and forth they go. Cal finally gets 2 up on 15 and Aaron being Aaron wins 16 and 17 to tie the match. Neither player plays 18 very well and they halve the hole. They look totally exhausted. They are the last Match on the course; lots of people are watching; and it is close to 90 degrees.
Back to 18 and this time Aaron knocks it about 30 feet above the hole with his second shot and Cal chips his third shot about 5 feet above the hole. Looks like the hole will be halved, until Aaron, somehow, someway, makes the 30-footer for an eagle. The match is over. The putt is reminiscent of Aaron’s long birdie putt on the second playoff hole at Spring Creek Rach in 2018 to win the Tennessee State Amateur. Well played Cal. Go home and put your feet up, Aaron.
The putt went in at about 2:55 pm which means Aaron had played 56 holes of golf under the most intense pressure in 25 hours. No hill for a climber and I would argue pretty good evidence of the athletic ability necessary to be a Champion Golfer.
His reward is to play 17-year old, JJ Zimmer, who defeated Trey Tidwell 4&3 in the morning and Jake Williams 6&5 in the afternoon. Jake won his morning match over David Harris 4&3. JJ is playing quite well right now. I think this may the first of many showdowns between Aaron and JJ. Should be fun to watch.
After defeating Zack, Jeff Reuter defeated Brian Henson 3&2 to earn on of the semi-final spots. Brian defeated David Hopper 4 & 3 in the morning match.
Jeff’s opponent will be former Union golfer, Jon Sain who defeated his good friend and former teammate, Braxton Rider 2 & 1 in the morning and his former teammate Sam Ross 3 & 2 in the afternoon. Sam defeated Brett Barry, another former Union golfer, 3& 2 in his morning match.
If anyone is counting, and I know Union University Golf coach, Ryan Chandler, should be counting, 8 of the final 16 either plays or played golf for Union.
So in the Stone Cup it is Jeff Reuter v. Jon Sain at 7:30 and JJ Zimmer v. Aaron Ingalls at 7:40 am. Well played gentlemen.
You may be getting tired of me telling you what great young men and women play in this tournament, but “dadgummit” it is the truth. All of these are “keepers”.
SENIOR STONE CUP
Billy Walker defeated Glen Fesmire 3&2; and, Danny Green defeated Coleman Wingate 3&2 to win the right to play each other for the Senior Stone Cup. Both are former champions. Both have played hundreds of rounds at the JCC and hundreds of rounds against and with each other. If you want to watch two senior players play the game the way it is supposed to be played (at their age), this is the match you want to watch which will begin at 7:50am at the JCC. I value the friendship of these guys and their lifetime commitment to the great game of golf. This should be fun.
PEARCE CUP
We will have a new Champion this year due to Loren Pickett’s 5&4 loss to Union golfer and Mayfield, KY’s finest, Nicole Taylor. (Yes Coach Chandler coaches the Ladies Golf Team as well, so that makes 9 players). She will play Claire Henson who defeated Lydia Baker 7&6 to earn her spot in the finals which will begin at 8:00 am. If you have young daughters who are interested in playing the game of golf, Dads and Moms, you should bring them out to watch these young ladies. You and your daughters will be impressed by their skill, grace and sportsmanship.
