Payne Denman becomes just the third person to win three straight Tennessee State Amateur titles

The final round of the 111th Tennessee State Amateur Championship was supposed to be a classic showdown with a captivating storyline. Visions of a classic duel between one golfer, Payne Denman, chasing history in seeking a third straight title against a cast of hardy challengers hellbent on denying him in his pursuit of glory.

Coupled with the fact this would unfold at one of the state’s iconic golf courses in Memphis Country Club, the stage was set for Friday’s finale. That is until Denman decided to do what only only he and two others in Tennessee Golf Association history have been able to accomplish.

Instead of a battle to the finish, it quickly turned into a processional, a date with destiny. Or better yet, it became a coronation.

The 34-year-old Denman showed no signs of weakness on his quest and offered little hope for his pursuers. After starting the day four shots clear of his closest foes, he closed with a final round 68 to finish the tournament at 9-under to win by a gaudy nine shots.

In doing so, the Murfreesboro resident who played collegiately at Middle Tennessee State became the first champion to win three consecutive State Ams since Cary Middlecoff won four straight from 1940 to 1943. Denman also joined another Hall of Famer in Chattanooga’s Polly Boyd, who reeled off three in a row in the early years of the TGA from 1920 to 1922.

“I’m ecstatic to be mentioned with some of the great names in TGA history,” Denman said.

After winning last year in come-from-behind fashion by one shot at Holston Hills Country Club and claiming a four-shot victory at Tennessee National in 2024, Denman’s margin of victory was the largest since Tyler Johnson lapped the field with a 14-shot win at Council Fire Club in 2021.

The victory also earns Denman an exemption to the U.S. Amateur Championship to be held August 10-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

A birdie on the opening hole Friday gave Denman some early confidence and kept his four-shot advantage over Winburne Hughes while increasing his edge over Christian Morneau to five.

Another birdie at No. 3 moved Denman to 9-under, leading to a six-shot cushion after six holes over Hughes, a Memphis product competing in the final group with Denman, and local phenom Brantley Moore, who is entering his senior year at Memphis University School.

Despite a bogey at No. 9, Denman made the turn still ahead by six, a lead that was never seriously threatened. Another birdie at 11 returned him to 9 under and it became a mere formality that he would soon hoist the Martin Condon Trophy for a third straight year. As a final exclamation point to his dominating performance, Denman capped his tournament with one final birdie at 18.

When asked if he permitted himself the luxury of enjoying the last few holes while holding a huge lead, Denman finally relented near the end.

“I don’t know that I ever really allowed it until the last hole,” Denman said. “I’ll admit I was definitely more mentally free on the back nine, but the job still wasn’t done.”

With his three-peat now a part of TGA history, Denman admitted that chasing history created additional expectations for himself this week. But it was all worth it, having claimed the State Am once again.

“I had moments where I struggled fighting off the thoughts and pressure of trying to win three in a row,” Denman said. “Each year had their own unique challenges for sure. This one is special though.”

Hughes carded a 73 on Friday to finish tied for second at even par with Jackson’s Carson Andreoni, whose final round 67 was the day’s low score and propelled him nine spots up the leaderboard.

Morneau, a University of Memphis golfer who hails from Canada, closed at 1 over as part of a five-way tie for fourth along with Moore, Bennett McNabb of Ringgold, Ga., Jackson McCommon of Germantown, and Franklin’s Dain Richie.

Three golfers finished in a tie for ninth at 2 over that included Griffin Law of Chattanooga, Gray Campbell of Humboldt, and Zachary Olsen of Cordova.

For full results from the 111th Tennessee State Amateur, click here.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com.

This story was originally published on Chattanoogan.com.