Event: 102^nd Tennessee State Amateur

Host Site: Belle Meade Country Club, Nashville, Tennessee

Playing Dates: August 8-11, 2017

Swoboda Swoops in to Win 102nd Tennessee State Amateur

John Swoboda made a late run and outlasted the field to win his first TGA Championship.

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NASHVILLE, TENN (August 11th, 2017) Belle Meade Country played host to one of the most compelling final rounds in the Tennessee Amateur Championship history Friday afternoon. As the fourth and final round unfolded, five different players spent time in first place. William Nottingham, who entered the final round with a one-shot lead, failed to create separation as he started the day with four pars. While the Clemson golfer was working for pars, Austin Carter found two birdies on his first four holes to join the lead at six-under-par. The last three holes of the front nine changed the dynamic of the championship. Carter made three consecutive birdies to race out in front, turning at eight-under-par for the week. Nottingham matched the birdie on No. 7 then found trouble on No. 8. The three-time TGA champion made a triple-bogey then made bogey on No. 9, turning at two-under-par.

Just when it appeared Carter was going to create some separation, the recent high school graduate bogeyed Nos. 11-12 taking the lead down to six-under-par. Brayden Garrison made birdie on Nos. 14 and 15 to take the lead at seven-under-par. Garrison’s tee shot on No. 16 hit hard off the green leading to a bogey. Another bogey on No. 17 took Garrison out of contention. Meanwhile, John Swoboda, who was in the finally pairing, three-under-par and five shots back at the turn, found a birdie on No. 15. “I made a nice little putt on No. 15 and decided to check the leaderboard for the first time,” Swoboda said. The 24 year-old found the motivation he needed. “I knew I had to get on a hot streak,” Swoboda said. Swoboda did get hot, picking up two more birdies on Nos. 16-17 to join Carter at six-under-par heading to No. 18.

Carter found the greenside bunker on the finishing hole but hit a splendid shot to inside five-feet. Unfortunately, the par putt slid by. Back in the fairway Swoboda changed his game plan. “Once I hit a good tee shot, I was contemplating firing at the pin or going for the middle of the green. Once I found out I needed a par it was a no brainer,” Swoboda said. The Mount Juliet resident executed his plan to perfection, finding the middle of the green. A nice lag putt left just over a foot for the win. Swoboda knocked it in and became the 102^ndTennessee Amateur Champion. “This is the biggest win I have had. I have played amateur tournaments the last six years. I did not play college golf. I had a nice year last year but this is definitely the biggest win.” Swoboda said. “I had ups and downs this week but going into today I knew I was going to win this thing,” Swoboda said in closing. 

About the Tennessee Golf Association

In 1914, the Tennessee Golf Association (TGA) was organized at Memphis Country Club as an association of five private clubs. The objective of the Association, as stated in its Constitution, "shall be to promote the game of golf in Tennessee." From these small origins the TGA has become an association which now includes over 200 member clubs, courses, and organizations, comprised of over 32,000 individuals from across the state.