Brown breaks through at TGA Match Play Championship
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The 2025 Match Play Championships returned to the Vanderbilt Legends Club — South Course for just the second time in tournament history. With four days of competition and a 64-player field, the demanding format tested both mental toughness and shot-making under pressure.
Day 1 opened with 16 pools of four. Each win earns one point, a draw, half a point, and a loss worth zero. Competitors played two matches on Day 1 before closing out pool play on Day 2, with only the top 16 advancing into the knockout stage.
Cameron Quinn emerged as the overall No. 1 seed after finishing strong, defeating J.G. Wilson 5 & 3 and John Thomas McKenzie 3 & 2.
Meanwhile, eventual champion Conner Brown, seeded No. 13, set the tone early with a commanding 6 & 5 victory over Rich Taylor and secured his spot with a draw against Chattanooga’s Seth Brandon.
The knockout stage on Day 3 began with a shake-up.
Five lower seeds toppled higher-ranked opponents, including the biggest upset of the week: University of Dayton golfer Will Jackson stunned top-seeded Quinn 2 & 1 in a back-and-forth battle.
Brown went toe-to-toe with No. 4 seed Taylor Mottern in one of the day’s most intense matches. Deadlocked at the turn, the two traded pars until the final hole, where Brown edged out Mottern with a clutch finish.
Other surprises included No. 11 Tucker Jenkins defeating Nashville’s No. 6 seed Scotty Hudson 4 & 3, while Knoxville’s No. 10 seed Jack Smith cruised past Alex Gaetz 5 & 4.
Even more drama came about, none bigger than the duel between No. 2 seed Trenton Johnson and Jack Smith. Johnson built a 2-up lead through nine, but Smith stormed back late, winning the 16th with par and the 18th with an eagle to force extra holes.
Johnson, however, held firm, finally prevailing on the 20th hole.
Elsewhere, Jackson kept his Cinderella run alive with a 3 & 2 victory over Grant Milling, while Ryan Ward punched his ticket to the semifinals with a 3 & 1 win against Jenkins.
On the final day of play, both semifinal matches came down to the 18th.
Conner Brown and Will Jackson staged a classic, with Jackson’s putting brilliance giving him an early 2-up lead through the front side.
Brown clawed back with steady chipping, winning three straight holes to move ahead. Jackson answered with wins on 14 and 15, but Brown refused to fold. On 17, he saved a tie with a remarkable chip from 20 feet after Jackson had rolled in a clutch putt.
On the 18th tee, Jackson’s drive found water, handing Brown the edge. After a replay of the hole due to a tied first attempt, Jackson pulled his tee shot out of bounds, sealing Brown’s place in the championship match.
On the other side, Johnson and Ward matched each other blow for blow through the front nine. Ward struck first on No. 10, but Johnson roared back, winning the final three holes in succession to advance.
The final brought together Johnson, the steady No. 2 seed, and Brown, the resilient No. 13 seed who had battled through tight contests all week. Johnson came out firing, taking the first two holes with confident play.
But Brown, no stranger to pressure, turned the tide with brilliant short-game execution. He captured four of the next seven holes to seize a 2-up lead at the turn.
From there, Brown never looked back. His touch around the greens continued to shine, saving par when needed and converting pressure putts. The match ended on the 15th green, where Johnson missed a short putt to extend play, handing Brown his first TGA title.
For the Shelbyville native and Belmont Bruin, it was a defining moment — a grueling week of golf capped with the Tim Jackson Cup, and a statement victory to start his upcoming senior season.
For full results from the 26th Tennessee Match Play Championship, click here.