Potter, Burgan made Co-Champs at Tennessee Senior Match Play due to severe weather
9/28/2024 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Tennessee Senior Match Play, Oak Ridge Country Club
In the Super Senior division, Danny Green won his 20th Tenn. G.A. title before Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the host course
by Paul Payne, for AmateurGolf.com
Jay Potter had always dreamed of what it might feel like to hoist a trophy after winning his first Tennessee Golf Association tournament. The Tullahoma resident never imagined it would unfold quite like it did Friday afternoon at Shelbyville’s RiverBend Country Club.
After Hurricane Helene turned the golf course into an unplayable quagmire overnight, the TGA officials declared Potter and fellow finalist Todd Burgan of Powell as co-champions of the 20th Tennessee Senior Match Play Championship. It is believed to be the first time that two winners have been named in the association’s storied 110-year history.
“It’s not how I envisioned it happening, but what are you going to do?” Potter said. “You can’t do anything about a hurricane. Todd and I were talking before we left and we’re definitely going to count this one as a championship won.”
Following a grueling day on Thursday that saw Burgan and Potter forced to win three matches to make it into the finals, there was a sense of relief that a decision was made before noon Friday to award two trophies.
“Yesterday was not only physically tough, but it was also hard to stay locked in mentally,” Burgan said. “I don't have any secret to tell you how I did it. I just tried to focus the best I could on the hole in front of me. I went straight from the 18th green to the first tee for the next match (in the semifinals), and it takes you a hole or two to get refocused. Once you get the adrenaline going in one match, it kind of drops and you’ve got to reset for a new opponent.”
After spending the morning hanging out in the RiverBend clubhouse once it became obvious their 8 a.m. tee time wouldn’t take place, it gave the duo a chance to get to know each other.
“We had a lot of time to sit and talk this morning waiting on the rain to stop,” Potter said. “Todd and I both turned 55 this year. We were trying to figure out how we had dodged each other until today. I had always heard of Todd because he’s been great for a long time but I just met him this week. We were looking forward to getting to play each other, but it just wasn't in the cards.”
Their extended conversation allowed them to formulate plans to reconnect next July at the British Senior Amateur. Potter qualified by virtue of his participation in this year’s U.S. Senior Open at Newport, R.I., while Burgan’s exemption stems from his advancement into match play in the U.S. Senior Amateur last month at The Honors Course.
“Our plan is to play our practice rounds together,” Potter said. “We’re both going to go over there and try to do some damage.”
Burgan’s victory was his 7th TGA title, having won the Tennessee Match Play in 2009, the Tennessee Four-Ball in 2000 and four Tennessee Mid-Amateur championships in 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2021.
More importantly to Burgan, it sealed his season-long goal of capturing the Tennessee Senior Player of the Year honors. Having won Player of the Year in 2011, he joins Tennessee golf legends Tim Jackson and Danny Green as the only players to win the award in both divisions.
“I really wanted to try to reach that goal, and that’s pretty special,” Burgan said. “It feels really good to get that done. Any time you can be mentioned in the same sentence with Tim and Danny, that’s saying something even though they’ve both done it several times.”
Burgan had an impressive showing during his week, earning medalist honors while shooting 22-under-par with match play concessions over his 85 holes played. He advanced to the finals late Thursday with a 1-up decision over Tim Roop of Hernando, Miss., defeated Tullahoma’s Alan Jones in the quarterfinals, 2-up, and bested Springfield’s Keith Woodall in his Round of 16 match with a 5 and 4 decision.
Potter’s march to his co-championship included a 1-up win over Steven Mann of Franklin in the semifinals, having defeated Mike Albonetti of Williston in the quarterfinals, 2 and 1, and an opening win over Cleveland’s Gary Davis in the Round of 16 by a 6 and 4 count.
“Since I turned 55 this year, playing senior golf is a new game,” Potter said. “I feel like a rookie again. Senior golf is very competitive and there are so many good players. It’s as strong today as it’s ever been, in my opinion.”
Potter, who has competed in a total of four USGA events since 2005, doesn’t plan on savoring his victory for long. He’s slated to compete in this weekend’s Moccasin Bend City Four-Ball on Saturday morning with partner Michael Lovvorn.
SUPER SENIOR
Danny Green got title No. 20
With the impending threat of Hurricane Helene casting an ominous weather forecast for Friday, the tournament – along with the 20th Tennessee Senior Match Play - evolved into a marathon at Shelbyville’s RiverBend Country Club.
Attempting to squeeze in as much golf as possible before darkness and storms arrived, the combatants in the Super Senior finals completed three rounds on Thursday with Jackson’s Danny Green eventually prevailing over Richard Smith of Springville, 3 and 2.
The Senior competition was also a dawn-to-dusk grind, with Todd Burgan of Powell and Tullahoma’s Jay Potter winning their semifinal matches. They must now hope that Mother Nature will comply long enough to allow their championship final scheduled for Friday morning to be completed.
The win for Green – the 20th Tennessee Golf Association title in his illustrious career – was full of mixed emotions. The Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame inductee was proud of claiming another title, but it also served as a somber reminder of the recent death of his close friend and long-time golf compatriot Doug Harris.
Harris was a fixture statewide on the amateur golf scene, a four-time TGA winner and the 2015 Tennessee Senior State Open champion. The Franklin resident also competed in two U.S. Senior Opens.
“I tried not to think about losing Doug too much,” Green said. “When I found out about it, I got really emotional. I didn't know him growing up, but Doug and I have been pretty close for the last 30 years or so playing golf. But he was definitely on my mind.”
It seemed likely that Green would achieve his milestone victory earlier this year when he and Harris were partners at the Tennessee Super Senior Four-Ball at Toqua Golf Club. But the missed opportunity made Thursday’s victory even sweeter.
“To finally get No. 20 is nice, because I never knew if I was going to get another one,” Green said. “I had a chance earlier this year, but Doug and I lost in the finals at the Four-Ball in 21 holes after we had a chance to win it on 17. You never know when you’re going to win again when you get to my age.”
Green’s win also accomplished a pair of firsts for the Jackson Country Club member. It was his first state championship in match play format, and it also was the first time he could recall playing three rounds of golf in a single day.
“I've never played three matches in a day before,” Green said. “I’m dang near 68 years old. I should have done that in my 30s, not at my age now.”
Green has previously won three State Amateurs (1993, 2000, 2003), four State Mid-Amateurs (1994, 2000, 2003, 2004) and three State Senior Amateur titles (2012, 2014, 2017), with this victory bringing his total of individual championships to 11.
He has also teamed to win nine other titles, including two times at the State Four-Ball (1996, 1997), four State Senior Four-Ball victories (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017), a State Super Senior Four-Ball title in 2022 and a pair of State Scramble wins (2000, 2003).
“I've been stuck at 19 for a while, so it's nice to get my 20th,” Green said. “I'm about to the end of my rope. I've lost my left eye, I had shoulder surgery three years ago and I just don't have the game I once had. But this golf course was set up for me. It wasn't long, involving a lot of wedges and putting.”
Green took the lead in the finals with an eagle at the 480-yard, par-5 6th hole, then went 2-up with a par at the par-3 8th. Smith sliced the gap to one with a par on 9, then another birdie from Green at the par-3 11th again gave him a 2-up cushion.
After halving the next four holes, Green was finally able to bring his exhausting day to a close by winning with a par at the par-4 16th hole.
About the Tennessee Senior Match Play
Open to male senior amateurs who are members of the Tennessee Golf Association. Check the entry form for handicap requirements. Format consists of 36 holes of stroke play followed by a cut to the low 16 for match play.
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