The Tennessee State Open returns to GreyStone for its 75th playing

DICKSON, Tenn. — As the Tennessee State Open celebrates its 75th Anniversary, the championship makes a return appearance to GreyStone Golf Club for the tenth time in the event’s history. Last year, Hunter Wolcott emerged victorious to complete the same feat his father had 40 years prior.

The final round in 2023 was filled with record-breaking performances, including the lowest round ever in the Tennessee Golf Association’s 110 years in Austin Lancaster’s 59 in the final round. Hunter Wolcott set a tournament record with his 22-under-par over three days of the tournament.

Once again, it will be a stacked field at the Tennessee State Open as three of the top five finishers return to the championship. Hunter and Ben Wolcott, the brother combo that finished 1-2 in last year’s State Open, return to the field along with golf phenomenon Blades Brown. The field also includes a host of past champions.

GreyStone is now hosting for the tenth time, the most of any course in the State Open’s history. Director of Golf Bob Wolcott describes the Mark McCumber-designed track as a crescendo; steadily building to the final stretch where tournaments can be won or lost.

Many late leads have been lost on those final four holes, a reality Wolcott knows all too well. A three-putt on the challenging 18th green in the 2003 Tennessee State Open cost him a title and triggered a playoff with Tennessee Golf Hall of Famer Rob Long and future PGA Tour champion Brandt Snedeker. Long eventually defeated both Wolcott and Snedeker to claim his second Curtis Person Trophy. Wolcott expects the same challenge from the course over 20 years later in another strong field.

Strackaline Spotlight

Golfers will be tested early and often at GreyStone Golf Club, especially when they are close to making the turn. Hole 7 is a mammoth of a par 4, playing at 487 yards during theTennessee State Open. It proved quite difficult for the field in 2023.

The 7th played as the second toughest hole, with players averaging 4.27 throughout the duration of the tournament. It had the most bogeys of any hole and third-fewest birdies. 

The narrow landing area with a bunker to the left means accuracy is at a premium off the tee. After finding the fairway, most players will still have a mid to long iron into the green. A bunker protects any hole location on the right side and there isn’t much room to miss left.

In the Field

Eric Ansett (Spring Hill) - The 2023 Tennessee State Open Round 1 Leader and former Lipscomb Bison returns to the State Open field. Ansett ended last year’s event T7. He had four other Top 10 finishes on the GProTour in 2023 and one already this year. 

Josh Bevell (Nashville) - The 2023 Tennessee PGA Player of the Year successfully qualified for the PGA Championship this season at Valhalla Golf Club. Bevell won the 2024 Tennessee PGA Goat Turf Players Championship. 

Chase Harris (Bartlett) - One of the assistant golf professionals at Chickasaw Country Club, Harris has been playing better and better every year recently. He has three Top-10 finishes so far this season to go with four in 2023, which included two wins. Harris’ 2023 season was highlighted by a win at the 2023 Goat Turf Players Championship.

Brad Hawkins (Knoxville) - The 2022 State Open champion, Hawkins looks to have his name etched on the Curtis Person trophy once again. Hawkins played collegiately at Tusculum University and was named team MVP in both 2016 and 2017. Hawkins has also carded two career professional wins aside from his State Open victory on the GPro Tour. 

Jackson Herrington (Dickson) - A future Tennessee Volunteer, Herrington reached the finals of the 2024 USGA Amateur Four-Ball with his teammate, Blades Brown. Herrington also finished runner-up at the AJGA Dustin Johnson World Junior. During his junior season, Herrington won the TSSAA Class AA Boys Golf Championship for Dickson County High School. 

Johan Kok (Nashville) - The head golf pro at Troubadour Golf and Field Club, Kok has qualified and played in 4 PGA Championships, the most recent coming in 2018 at Bellerive Golf Course. Kok also finished in a tie for second place at the Goat Turf Players Championship. Kok also recorded a T8 finish among the professionals at the 2022 State Open. 

Grant Leaver (Murfreesboro) - Austin Peay Athletics Hall-of-Famer and 2010 State Open Champion, Leaver looks to get back into the winner’s circle at this year’s State Open. Leaver turned professional after graduation in 2008, and played 3 seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour. 

Connor McKay (Knoxville) - McKay makes his return to the Tennessee State Open for the first time since turning pro in 2021. The Knoxville resident is no stranger to TGA titles, having won back-to-back Tennessee Match Play championships in 2019 and 2020. A former golfer at both Lipscomb and Middle Tennessee State, McKay holds the record for most consecutive rounds under par (11).

Sheldon McKnight (McMinnville) - McKnight hoisted the Harold Eller trophy in 2022 as winner of the Tennessee Junior Amateur. The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raider golfer also recorded a top 5 finish at the 2024 State Amateur at Tennessee National. 

Harrison Ott (Franklin) - A former collegiate golfer for the Vanderbilt Commodores, Ott turned professional following graduation and currently plays on the PGA Tour Americas. He was a back-to-back champion of the Wisconsin State Open in 2020 and 2021. 

Zac Radford (Nashville) - The man known best for his stinger and golf videos on his Instagram and YouTube is back at the Tennessee State Open after making his return to professional golf at last year’s event. Radford finished T11 among the professionals in the field in 2023 and boasts over 300,000 followers on his Instagram and YouTube pages.

Nolan Ray (Spring Hill) - The former Tennessee Volunteer, Ray looks to add to his two TGA titles. Ray was crowned champion of the 2019 Tennessee State Amateur and won the State Open in 2021 at GreyStone Golf Club. 

Mike Tankersley (Lewisburg) - The 1992 Tennessee State Amateur Champion, Tankersley makes his return to the TGA Championship schedule, competing in his first event since the 2021 State Open. 

Samuel Trueba (Pedreña, Spain) - Trueba, a recent graduate and former collegiate golfer for the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Mocs, is currently ranked 281st in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. During his collegiate career, he won the 2023 Marquette Invitational and finished in 3rd place at the 2024 SoCon Men’s Golf Championship.