(Franklin, TN) – 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, will take place 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.”

The Challenge Cup dates back to 1968.  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.

Currently 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 break the overall 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.

Tennessee Professionals
Captain – Chris Woods
Vice Captain – Chris Dibble
Casey Flenniken – Tanasi Golf Course
Braxton Hunter – Fairways & Greens
Allie Knight – Fairways & Greens
Johan Kok – Troubadour Golf & Field Club
Adam Forgey – Heatherhurst Golf Club
Josh Bevell – Profectus Golf
Mike Vance – Jackson National Golf Club
Kelvin Burgin – Bear Trace at Cumberland
Bobby Cochran – Colonial Country Club
Scott Masters – Old Hickory Country Club
Seniors
Bill Breen – Harpeth Valley Golf Center
Audie Johnson – Ted Rhodes Golf Course
Jared Melson – Bear Trace at Tims Ford
Glenn Hudson – Dick’s House of Sport
Allen Fennell – TN Golf Trail – Warrior Path
Mark Houser – Life Member

Tennessee Amateurs
Ryan Greer
Aaron Ingalls
Travis Womble
Brendon Wilson
Lucas Armstrong
Grant Milling
Jeff Reuter
Whit Turnbow
Jack Smith
Matt Mitchell
Seniors
Captain – Jeff Golliher
Mike Poe
Bryan Rodgers
Steve Golliher
Tim Richardson
Bob Rice

Tennessee  Challenge Cup Matches Past Results

1968 Amateurs – 45.5 Professionals – 44.5 Old Hickory CC
1969 Professionals – 55.5 Amateurs – 43.5 Cherokee CC
1970 Professionals – 59 Amateurs – 51 Windyke CC
1971 Professionals – 110 Amateurs – 70 Richland CC
1972 Professionals – 115 Amateurs – 58 Fox Den CC
1973 Professionals – 52 Amateurs – 48 CC of Bristol
1974 Professionals – 104 Amateurs – 76 Farmington CC
1975 Amateurs – 25 Professionals – 18 Cherokee CC
1976 Professionals – 26 Amateurs – 13 Hillwood CC
1977 Professionals – 27 Amateurs – 13 Richland CC
1978 Professionals – 23 Amateurs – 17 Belle Meade CC
1979 Professionals – 20.5 Amateurs – 19.5 Hillwood CC
1980 Professionals – 22 Amateurs – 18 Old Hickory CC
1981 Professionals – 23.5 Amateurs – 16.5 Nashville G & A
1982 Amateurs – 23.5 Professionals – 16.5 Nashville G & A
1983 Professionals – 21.5 Amateurs – 18.5 Nashville G & A
1984 Amateurs – 27.5 Professionals – 12.5 Nashville G & A
1985 Professionals – 25 Amateurs – 15 Nashville G & A
1986 Professionals – 10.5 Amateurs – 9.5 Valleybrook G & CC
1987 Amateurs – 27.5 Professionals – 12.5 Chickasaw CC
1988 Amateurs – 23.5 Professionals – 16.5 Ridgefields CC
1989 Amateurs – 21 Professionals – 19 Willow Creek GC
1990 Amateurs – 28 Professionals – 16 Link Hills CC
1991 Professionals – 29 Amateurs – 15 River Islands G C
1992 Professionals – 29.5 Amateurs – 14.5 Legends Club
1993 Professionals – 28.5 Amateurs – 19.5 Legends Club
1994 Professionals – 22.5 Amateurs – 13.5 Legends Club
1995 Professionals – 20 Amateurs – 16 Legends Club
1996 Professionals – 20 Amateurs – 16 Legends Club
1997 Amateurs – 25.5 Professionals – 14.5 Legends Club
1998 Professionals – 21.5 Amateurs – 18.5 Legends Club
1999 Amateurs – 24 Professionals – 20 Legends Club
2000 Amateurs – 24.5 Professionals – 19.5 Legends Club
2001 Professionals – 24 Amateurs – 20 Nashville G & A
2002 Amateurs – 26 Professionals – 18 Nashville G & A
2003 Professional – 26 Amateurs – 18 Nashville G & A
2004 Amateurs – 18 Professionals – 15 Cottonwoods G C
2005 Professionals – 20 Amateurs – 12 Ridgeway C C
2006 Amateurs – 16.5 Professionals – 15.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2007 Professionals – 17.5 Amateurs – 14.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2008 Amateurs- 21.5 Professionals- 10.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2009 Professionals- 18.5 Amateurs- 13.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2010 Amateurs- 16.5 Professionals- 15.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2011 Amateurs- 18.5 Professionals- 13.5 Vanderbilt Legends
2012 Amateurs- 20 Professionals- 12 Vanderbilt Legends
2013 Amateurs- 17 Professionals- 15 Stonehenge GC
2014 Professionals- 17.5 Amateurs- 14.5 Stonehenge GC
2015 Amateurs- 20 Professionals 12 Stonehenge GC
2016 Professionals- 19 Amateurs- 13 Stonehenge GC
2017 Amateurs-15 Professionals- 9 The Honors Course
2018 Professionals-18 Amateurs- 14 Cherokee CC
2019 Professionals-17 Amateurs- 15 Chattanooga G&CC
2020 Amateurs-20 Professionals-12 Hillwood CC
2021 Amateurs- 21 Professionals-11 Sewanee GC

Series Total – Professionals – 31 Amateurs – 23