I first won the Tennessee Senior State Open in 2013 in a come-from-behind situation. It was an amazing feeling, one that I didn’t know if I’d ever have again. Then in 2016 Gibby Gilbert and I tied for first place because we ran out of daylight due to a rain delay earlier in the day. Since then, I’ve had #3 on my mind. Could I three-peat? That has been the question for the last three years. It went from a question to a goal written on my bathroom mirror.
This week I achieved that goal, winning the Tennessee Senior State Open for a third time, but under different circumstances than my previous two wins.
Monday was a beautiful day for golf. Mid ’80’s, ten degrees cooler than the previous day when we played our practice round. No wind, slightly overcast skies. A golfer’s dream. The course was in the best shape I’ve ever seen it, probably due to the time it was closed due to COVID-19. I was paired with two excellent players, Gibby Gilbert who was the first person to win the tournament three times, and Walt Chapman, the defending champion from 2019. I got out to a lead before the turn at -3 with three birdies on 5, 6 and 8. On the back I carded four more birdies on 10, 14, 16 and 17 and one bogey on 12. It was a good, solid round. It’s fun to see the ball roll in the hole, and I finished -6 for the day, two strokes ahead of the next guy.
I had gone into this day with three thoughts; 1) play my game, 2) focus on my strengths, and 3) get putts to fall. It was my lowest round ever in this tournament at 66 and it was quite a highlight.
Going into the second day with a good lead put me in a different position than in the past. I wasn’t coming from behind. What would I do with my game the next day?
The weather was turning. Tuesday saw us surrounded by thunderstorms and the wind was up a bit.
“The weather was turning...”
We were a little concerned that we wouldn’t get all 18 in, which can affect your concentration. Still in the lead a few holes in, my strategy was to play smart golf. Keep the ball in front of me and manage my game around the course. Keep my thoughts very positive. Be patient.
With my lead widening as the round went on, I played to the middle of the greens and went a little more conservative with my putts. I took my lessons from the day before and made club changes on a couple of holes that I was dissatisfied with on Monday. For instance, on 15 the fairway shot doesn’t fit my eye. I decided on a shorter club for that shot and focused on a smaller target. I talked it through with my caddie and hit a better shot than the previous day.
When the round was over I had shot even with one birdie and one bogey on each side, enough to win by 4 strokes.
“Luck follows Preparation”
It’s often said that you have to be lucky in golf to win a tournament, and that’s true. You need a little luck. Sometimes your ball hits a tree after an errant swing and bounces back in the fairway. But it usually doesn’t. Luck follows preparation and that is my strategy for these tournaments. Preparation. There is no substitute.
I appreciate everything about the game of golf. I enjoy competition. I like feeling the pressure and I’m motivated when I compete against good players like I did this week. I enjoy the beauty of the golf course. The Lord has blessed me with the ability to play this game and I am humbly thankful.
I’m equally thankful to be able to teach golf. I appreciate my students and enjoy seeing their improvement. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to make a living at something that I love so much.
Finally, I’m thankful to the City of Crossville and Stonehenge Golf Course for hosting us every year, and for the Tennessee Section PGA which puts on this and many other tournaments throughout the year. They do an incredible job often under difficult circumstances, especially this year with COVID-19 in the mix. We missed the volunteers this year. They usually act as spotters and scorers for us and we missed their faces. We hope to see them again soon.
Thank you for all your support.
Keep it in the short grass.
Bill
Here are the videos the Tennessee Section PGA took after the last putt on 18.