SPRING HILL, Tenn. — Former Middle Tennessee State teammates, Lucas Armstrong and Payne Denman, came together again to win the 2023 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball championship. The duo used a record-breaking first day to propel themselves to victory.
Their day-one score of 9-under-par 61, the lowest 18-hole score in the tournament’s three-year history. That performance, however, was only good enough for a tie for first place after Nashville’s Brandon Farrell and David Todd fired an identical first-round 61.
With a two-shot lead over the field, the two teams didn’t have much room to stumble. Neither team really did, though the Armstrong-Denman duo kept their foot on the gas a little longer. It’s a good thing they did as a few teams surged up the leaderboard on day two.
The biggest jump came from the two-time Four-Ball champion squad of Jack Smith and Ryan Greer. They had the low second-round score, turning in a 7-under-par 63 to jump from T20 to T2 on Sunday.
Still, Armstrong and Denman played nearly perfectly on the second day, carding a 5-under-par 65 for a two-day total of 14-under-par 126, a four-stroke victory. It was Armstrong’s (Church Hill) first-ever Tennessee Golf Association title and Denman’s (Murfreesboro) second title, winning the Men’s Four-Ball in 2014.
The 3rd Annual Men’s Mid-Amateur Four-Ball marks the first time the event was held inside Tennessee borders after spending its first two years at Tunica National in Mississippi. This was also the largest field in tournament history, featuring 124 players.
Full results from the even are available here.
PAST CHAMPIONS AND SITES
| 2022 | Aaron Ingalls & Jeff Reuter | Tunica National |
| 2021 | Wes Spannuth & Brian Cook | Tunica National |
TOURNAMENT RECORDS
Most championships as team: 1, Wes Spannuth—Brian Cook, 2021; 1, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022; Lucas Armstrong—Payne Denman, 2023.
Most championships with multiple partners: None.
Most consecutive championships as a team: None.
Most consecutive championships with multiple partners: None.
Most runner-up finishes as a team: 1, Rich Taylor—Travis Womble, 2021; 1, Jason Walters—Tyler Thompson, 2021; 1, Clay Mallard—Ryan Chandler, 2022; 1, Jack Smith—Ryan Greer, 2023; 1, Tyler Woods—Jack Tyminski; 1, Brandon Farrell—David Todd, 2023.
Most runner-up finishes with multiple partners: none.
Lowest score, 36 holes: 124, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022, Tunica National.
Lowest score, 36 holes, based on par: 124 (-20), Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022, Tunica National.
Lowest score, 18 holes: 61, Lucas Armstrong—Payne Denman, 1st round, 2023, Towhee; 61, Brandon Farrell—David Todd, 2023, Towhee.
Lowest score, 18 holes, based on par: 62 (-10), Gregg Guinn—Tyler Guy, 1st round, 2021, Tunica National; Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 1st round, 2022, Tunica National; Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2nd round, 2022, Tunica National; Ben Glover—Chris Barron, 2nd round, 2022, Tunica National; Matt Cooper—Mike Brunk, 2nd round, 2022, Tunica National.
Lowest score, 9 holes: 29, Ben Glover—Chris Barron, 1st round (front), 2022, Tunica National; 29, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2nd round (back), 2022, Tunica National; 29, Buzz Fly—David Howser, 2nd round (front), 2023, Towhee.
Lowest score, 9 holes, based on par: 29 (-7), Ben Glover—Chris Barron, 1st round (front), 2022, Tunica National; 29 (-7), Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2nd round (back), 2022, Tunica National.
Lowest score, first 18 holes: 61, Lucas Armstrong—Payne Denman, 2023, Towhee; Brandon Farrell—David Todd, 2023, Towhee.
Lowest score, last 18 holes: 62, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022, Tunica National; Ben Glover—Chris Barron, 2022, Tunica National; Matt Cooper—Mike Brunk, 2022, Tunica National.
Lowest 18-hole final round by winner: 62, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022, Tunica National.
Largest winning margin: 5 stroke, Aaron Ingalls—Jeff Reuter, 2022, Tunica National.
Youngest player to win championship: Payne Denman (31 years, 7 months, 24 days), 2023, Towhee.
Oldest player to win championship: Wes Spannuth (43 years, 8 months, 18 days), 2021, Tunica National.
Most times host club of championship: 2, Tunica National, 2021, 2022.
