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

May 14, 2002

Don’t expect to observe any construction as you drive by Hickory Valley Golf Course in the near future.

Even though there have been some published reports, Brainerd Baptist Church will not be building a new high school at the site of the 9-hole course.

"Brainerd Baptist did not exercise its option to buy the land at our course,’’ said Danny Tribble, Jr., Hickory Valley’s professional and owner. "We’re still in business and welcome all our regular players to come out and play.

"The course is in good shape with our bermuda tees, fairways and greens. We’ll be open from now on unless someone comes along with a pot of money.’’

Starting May 22, Hickory Valley will feature a 9-hole blind draw low ball every Wednesday. The entry fee of $15 includes a cart. The entry fee is $20 for those who want to participate in the prize pot. The golfers will play nine holes, then travel to Christopher’s Pub and Grill for the drawing. The event is sponsored by Christopher’s. Call the Hickory Valley golf shop at 894-1576 to enter.

CLEVELAND INVITATIONAL THIS WEEKEND: Retired railroad man Ronnie Law from Chattanooga will try to defend his title Saturday and Sunday (May 18-19) in the Cleveland Invitational at the Rolling Hills Course.

Professional Lamar Mills already has a field of more than 80 players, and has slots available up to 100. Mills said golfers can call 472-7129 to enter through Thursday.

"The greens are in great shape again and the fairways are coming in good,’’ Mills said. "The course seems to be in good shape.

"We’re looking forward to hosting the tournament for the second year.’’

Mills said Monday’s storms did no damage at his course.

"We had a lot of hard rain, but not as much wind as they did around Hixson,’’ he said. "Business has been good. Golf is down everywhere, but we’ve held our own up here. We’ve stayed pretty busy, although the weather hasn’t cooperated. It’s been either rainy or cool, certainly not typical May weather.’’

Several of the area’s best amateur players will challenge the elder Law for the championship, including his son Kevin Law, Mike Miller, Josh Nelms, Chris Treadway, Mark Guhne, Jay Goza, Dustin Gill, Neil Scott, Chris Gilliland and Nick Bailes.

Baylor’s Nelms finished one stroke off the pace at the Wally Invitational Junior Golf Tournament last weekend in Nashville. Nelms, who has signed with Middle Tennessee State, had an opening round of 74 on the Old Hickory Country Club course on Saturday and finished with a 68 on Sunday.

Scott, the former Cleveland High golfer and son of former state amateur champion Maggie Scott, has signed a golf scholarship with Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. Scott singed with Tennessee-Chattanooga, but later transferred to Cleveland State.

Bailes qualified last week for the State Open. He finished seventh in the state high school tournament last year as a junior. "He’s a player to watch in the future,’’ Mills said.

The tournament is a Chattanooga TPC designated event.

STATE OPEN FIELD SET: The field has been set for the 54th Annual Coca-Cola/AmSouth State Open Championship, which is scheduled for May 22-24 at GreyStone Golf Club in Dickson. The 54-hole stroke play event will feature many of Tennessee’s top PGA Professionals and top amateur golfers.

A total of 408 entry applications were received by the TGA. (This was the second largest entry total in history). Qualifying rounds were conducted at eight different locations on April 29 and May 6. Fort-eight of the 408 entrants were exempt from qualifying.

Past champions scheduled to compete are pro Bobby Bray (1974), pro James Paschal (1979), pro Kip Henley (1982, 1997), pro Bob Wolcott (1983), pro Gary Robinson (1984), Rob Long (1987), pro Steve Munson (1991), pro Bobby Nichols (1992), pro Garrett Willis (2000), and Trey Lewis (2001).

GreyStone Golf Club, a Mark McCumber design, opened in 1998 and has hosted the Coca-Cola/AmSouth State Open since 1999. The course has proven to be a very good test for the competitors in this event. GreyStone also hosts the Fluffo Women’s Tennessee Open Championship in July.

Professionals in the field will be competing for a $30,000 cash purse, with the winner taking home $6,000.

WHITE HELPS VOLS TO FINISH OF 11TH: Chattanooga’s Jimmy White moved back into the Tennessee lineup last weekend and finished tied for 34th with his 225 in the Atlanta Intercollegiate Tournament in Stockbridge, Ga.

White’s total helped Tennessee finish 11th in the tournament. Andrew Black of East Ridge, who recently won the Signal Mountain Invitational, tied for 54th with a 233.

EASTGATE COURSE CLOSING: The Eastgate Par 3 will close in June after 40 years. It was originally an 18-hole layout, but was changed to nine holes in 1979.

Road construction will run through the property starting in June.

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