NEWPORT-Local golfers are stepping it up of late, and we'll begin with former Cocke County High School standout Cory Talley of Newport.

Talley, who will begin his senior year at Lincoln Memorial University, has qualified for the 95th Annual Tennessee Amateur Championship, slated for August 3-6 at Club at Fair Vue Plantation, Foxland Course, in Gallatin.

In order to be invited to the prestigious Amateur Championship, golfer must qualify in one of four tournaments held across the state. Talley played at the State Amateur Qualifier at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville on July 20, and finished tied for sixth with a -2, 70, just three shots off the low score.

"I'm excited to make it this year," said Talley. "I've got to send a huge thanks to the people who are helping me get to the tournament, including Crystal and John Ford of the Ford Cruz Thru and Charlie Mason of Mason Realty. They've really stepped up to help me with expenses. We've also been selling donuts at Diane's Beauty Shop, which has been a huge help as well."

The Tennessee State Amateur Championship has a storied history. After an invitational State Amateur tournament was played in Nashville in 1913, the Tennessee Golf Association was formed at Memphis Country Club during the week of the Southern Amateur tournament in 1914. It was decided the TGA's first State Amateur would be played later in the year at Nashville Golf & Country Club. Bradley Walker of Nashville defeated McGee Tyson of Knoxville, 11 and 9, in a 36-hole match. Originally contested at match play, the Amateur has chosen its champion by stroke play since 1967, exclusive of 1968.

Other area golfers qualifying for the Amateur Championship were Logan Hance of White Pine and Jeff Jennings of Jefferson City.

 

TGA JUNIOR TOUR

The Tennessee Golf Association held their post-season tournaments this past week, and Cocke County was well represented.

Cocke County High School standouts Chase Atkins and Jacob Quinton both played in the Toyota Tournament of Champions at the Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Quinton qualified outright in the 23-golfer field in the Boy's 16-18 Masters Division. Atkins was named an alternate, and made the field after three of the 23 invites couldn't make the tournament.

Atkins took full advantage of the opportunity in the two-day tournament, finishing fourth overall with a 7-over, 143 (71, 72), five shots behind the winner, Dallas Hill. Quinton struggled on opening day, but found his game in the final round to finish on 161 (84, 77).

Meanwhile, young Alayna Perryman of Newport qualified an received just one of 12 invitations to play in the Toyota Aspen Grove Challenge, Girl's 8-11 Micro Division, held last weekend at the Little Course at Conner Lane in Franklin.

Perryman started slow in the opening round, but played consistently over the final three rounds finishing on 160 (47, 36, 38, 39) for a tenth-place finish.

 

MARTINDALE TAKES FRANKLIN JUNIOR

Jefferson County High School rising senior Kendall Martindale finished second at the AJGA Franklin Junior presented by Franklin American Mortgage Company this past week played at Vanderbilt Legends Club.

"I guess I was just really consistent," Martindale said. "I never got in trouble. I was always in the fairway and just on the green."

On the boy's side, Cocke County High School rising senior Zach Briggs finished the three-day event on 227 (77, 77, 73), 21 shots off the pace.

 

BANEBERRY 3-MAN SCRAMBLE

Baneberry Golf and Resort played host to their 25th Annual 3-Man Scramble recently.

Knoxville was home to the first, second and fourth place teams in the Championship Flight with Jonathan Cox, Jerry Cox and Chas Narramore taking home top honors on 111. Their scored of 55-56-111 set a new low for this 25-year event. The team of Justin Roundtree, Mike Jenkins and Doug Dunlop finished second on 117, tied with the team of Dirk Blyth, Ron Barrona and Phil Nichols of Hendersonville, North Carolina. The team of Mark Ostby, Eric Miller and Jack Croyle finished fourth on 118.

In the First Flight, the Jefferson City team of Mike Seal, Russell Seal and Jay Dalton took top honors on 122. The teams of Chas Gray, Trey Gray and Michael gray of Columbia and Glyn Gamble, Jeremy Beachner and Gary Johnson of Baneberry tied for second with each finishing on 124. There was a three-way tied for fourth between the teams of Brent Miller, Wally Simmons and Todd Metcalf of Nashville, John Rhode, Mike York and Jim Brown of Powell and Bobby Standon, Tupper Baker and Jeff Russell of Knoxville, each finishing on 126.

In the Second Flight, the team of Tommy Finger, Tony Buchanan and Ronnie Dillingham of Maggie Valley, North Carolina took home top honors on 126. The team of Darren Stone, Bo Callaway and Joey Davis of Glasgow, Kentucky finished second on 127. Three teams tied for third, including Steve Bates, Steve Schumate and Chris Wolfenbarger of Knoxville, Bill Russell, Bob Russell and Brian Russell of Knoxville and Doug Fillers, Chris Keys and Buford Reagan of Greeneville, each finishing on 128.

And in the Third Flight, two teams finished tied for first, including Wayne McCall, David Grizzle and Dustin Grizzle of Bristol and Clay Shelton, Josh Stephen and Chas Shelton of Greeneville, each finishing on 132. The team of Darrell Hayes, Chris Jackson and Jimmy Sommers of Oneida finished third on 133 while the team of Scott Cook, Roger Ayers and Steve Helm of Maggie Valley, North Carolina finished fourth on 134.