FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The popular Ryder Cup style event, the Tennessee Challenge Cup, is set for its 55th installment. The Challenge Cup, which annually pits the top 16 amateur golfers in the state against the top 16 PGA professionals, is scheduled for October 31st through November 1st, 2022 at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville.
Officials from both the Tennessee Golf Association, which selects the amateur team, and the Tennessee Section PGA, which chooses the professional team, are excited about this year’s battle for the John Deal Cup trophy.
“The Cup matches continually prove to be the most exciting event on our calendar,” said Clayton Hromadka, executive director of the Tennessee Section PGA. “The camaraderie that each of the participants experiences is tough to match in any other event.”
“While the camaraderie is certainly enjoyable, that doesn’t eliminate the intense competition that goes on once they tee off,” Hromadka continued. “I always enjoy watching the matches unfold as the players on each side give everything they have for their respective teams.”
Allison Brown, the executive director for the Tennessee Golf Association, added, “Holston Hills Country Club will be a great setting for this special event. Not only does it give our players the chance to compete on an outstanding golf course, but it is also great for hosting social functions for the event in their clubhouse. It will be a lot of fun for those who qualify.”
The Challenge Cup dates back to 1968, when the Amateurs edged out a 45.5-44.5 victory over the Professionals at Old Hickory Country Club.
The event came to fruition thanks to the efforts of Old Hickory amateur John Deal, Cookeville amateur Bobby Greenwood, and Cookeville professional Hubie Smith, who was president of the Tennessee Section PGA at the time.
Since then, the professional team has built a 30-23 advantage in the overall series, though the amateurs have won eight of the last 10 meetings. The event went to its current format in 1975, with one round each of four-ball, foursomes and singles matches played over the two-day tournament. The amateurs won last year’s showdown at The Course at Sewanee.
“Amateurs in Tennessee play in our championships and local invitationals throughout the year to make this team,” Brown said. “There is a lot of pride amongst our amateurs and they love competing against the wonderful PGA professionals in our state.”
Each team is comprised of 16 players, six of which are seniors. The professional team is selected using the Tennessee Section PGA’s season-ending Professional and senior Professional Player of the Year rankings. The amateur team is chosen based on the Tennessee Golf Association’s season-ending amateur and Senior Amateur Player of the Year rankings.
Cookeville professional Bobby Nichols holds the record for most Challenge Cup appearances as he played in 37 of the first 40 installments. Knoxville native Jeff Golliher has made the most appearances for the Amateur Team, having competed in the Challenge Cup 37 times and will have the opportunity to break the record Nichols holds this year.
Located just east of Knoxville near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, the golf course at Holston Hills Country Club is as well preserved a Donald Ross design as can be found. Built in 1927, it was immediately recognized as the finest course in Tennessee, hosting every important regional tournament, including a PGA Tour event. Now a McConnell Golf property, the private golf course consistently ranks in GolfWeek’s Top 100 Classic Golf Courses in America.