Local golfers reach Buick Scramble national tournament
Taking place at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory on Aug. 18, 15 teams competed in the Tennessee PGA Sectional Championship, each including one PGA Professional and four amateurs.
In the gross division, PGA Professional Hank Patton’s McMinnville Country Club team turned in a 16-under-par 56 to take the gross division by three strokes. Amateurs making up the team included Todd Jenkins, Mark Hitchcock, Chad Newby, Corker DeLoach Jr. and Jonathon Heath. Fellow PGA Professional Sean Wells’ McMinnville CC team finished in second place in the gross division with a 59.
In the net division, PGA Professional Kevin Forte’s Harpeth Hills Municipal Golf Course of Nashville recorded a net 15-under-par 57 to win the net division championship by one stroke over three teams.
Each team participating in the Buick Scramble Tennessee PGA Sectional Championship advanced from their respective local championships earlier in the spring and summer. McMinnville CC and Harpeth Hills Municipal will advance to compete against 258 other teams from throughout the United States at the Buick Scramble National Championships in Orlando.
Buick Scramble Honorary Chairman Tiger Woods is scheduled to appear at the national championships to award the trophies to the 2003 Buick Scramble National Champions.
Now in its 20th season and second under the Buick Banner, the Buick Scramble is the world’s largest amateur golf tournament, with nearly 100,000 participants each year. Sanctioned by the PGA of America, 260 teams (130 in net and gross divisions) will compete for national championship honors and a purse of over $285,000 (cash for PGA Professionals, gift certificates for amateurs).