(Knoxville, TN) – The next tournament on the TNPGA schedule takes us to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship July 31st- August 1st at Holston Hills Country Club.  The Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship dates back to 1976.  Section professionals, age 50 and older, are eligible for the competition. 

DATES: July 31 – August 1, 2023
OFFICIAL NAME: Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship
HASHTAGS: #TNSENIOR #TNPGA
VENUE: Holston Hills Country Club – Knoxville, TN
PAR/YARDS: 72 – 6,400 yards
Purse: $5,650
PAST CHAMPIONS: https://shorturl.at/cfBY1
QUALIFYING SPOTS: 4 Senior Professionals will advance on to the 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Cadillac on October 26-29, 2023 at PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, FL.

FIELD OVERVIEW
SIZE: 38 players
FIELD LIST: https://shorturl.at/mvwY5
FIRST ROUND PAIRINGS: https://shorturl.at/sEKP3 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Sunday: Practice Rounds
Monday: Round 1
Tuesday: Round 2, Awards Presentation Following

ROLEX SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

Through six events Jared Melson (Tullahoma, TN) holds the top spot in the Rolex Senior Player of the Year standings as he’s yet to finish outside the top five of the senior competition in all six starts.  A four time Senior Player of the Year, Melson will look to put some more distance between him and second this week.  Kelvin Burgin (Crossville, TN) started the season hot with a first place finish and a tie for first at the City of Crossville Team Championship back in May.  Burgin has the capability to be in the mix on the final round on Tuesday.  The Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship is a Level I event where the top-20 finishers will be awarded points ranging from 300 points to first and 12 points to twentieth.  Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into this week’s championship.

  1. Jared Melson (The Bear Trace at Tims Ford) – 936
  2. Glenn Hudson (Dick’s House of Sport) – 729
  3. Kelvin Burgin (The Bear Trace at Cumberland Mountain) – 720
  4. Audie Johnson (McCabe Golf Course) – 671
  5. Loren Personett (McCabe Golf Course) – 668
  6. Bill Breen (Harpeth Valley Golf Center) – 618
  7. Allen Fennell (TN Golf Trail at Warriors Path) – 554
  8. Grey Wyatt (Golf Capital Learning Center) – 480
  9. Jeff Lyons (Harpeth Valley Golf Center) – 387
  10. Mark Houser (LMA) – 369

NOTES ON THE LIST OF COMPETITORS:

Defending champion Loren Personett (Mount Juliet, TN) who won last year’s event at Memphis Country Club will look to go back-to-back.  Personett is coming off a T-4 performance at the Yamaha Harold Eller Pro-Am two weeks ago and a first overall among Senior Professionals at the Tennessee Shine Co. Pro-Am. Glenn Hudson (La Follette, TN) has put together a strong campaign all season long.  Hudson has finished in the top 10 in all six of his starts this season. Hudson’s stroke play performance is highlighted by his T2 finish in the Tennessee Senior State Open back in mid June.  Audie Johnson (Mount Juliet, TN) has also put together a strong resume this year.  Johnson has a first place in the Senior division of the Goat Turf Players Championship to his name and is coming off a T4 finish at the Yamaha Harold Eller Pro-Am.  Past Champions Bobby Cochran, Bill Breen,  Mark Houser and Buddy Hartson are also in the field this year.

Action gets underway at 8:00 A.M. ET  with a single tee starting off No. 1 tee for both rounds.  Round one pairings were based on current Rolex Senior Player of the Year points and round two pairings will be based on score.  A trophy presentation by the clubhouse will follow the final round of play.