Fairchild takes title at TGA event

Local golfer Austin Fairchild came away with his first victory of the summer June 27, winning the boys 14- and 15-year-old Masters division of a Tennessee Golf Association Junior Tour event in Cookeville.

Competing at the par 70 Cookeville Golf Club, Fairchild found himself two strokes back heading onto the 18th tee box. Andrew Vanstratum, who was leading at that point, bogeyed the hole, and Fairchild had to sink a 50-foot birdie putt to tie, forcing a sudden-death playoff. He won the event on the third hole of the playoff after both he and Vanstratum finished with rounds of 5-over par.

Their nearest competitor in the division, Austin Garrett, settled for third after shooting a 10-over 80.

McMinnville’s Brandon Hodges, who will compete alongside Fairchild this fall as members of the Warren County High School golf team, finished eighth in the 16-18 Masters division, shooting an 84.

The Masters division of the TGA Junior Tour is its most competitive group, and is designed for experienced golfers with low handicaps.

‘ In other recent TGA action, McMinnville’s Nick Stern took home second place in the Boys 8-9 Micro division at a recent event in Crossville, finishing his nine-hole round with a 48, four strokes behind the winner, Knoxville’s Bo Fischer.