Chris Woods, PGA named Professional Team Captain of the 55th Tennessee Cup Matches

(Franklin, TN) – Chris Woods, PGA, Teaching Professional at Golf AMPLIFIED, will serve as the captain of the Tennessee Professionals Challenge Cup.

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 Tennessee PGA professionals, is scheduled for October 31st and November 1st, 2022 at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville.

Last year Chris Woods made his first appearance in the Cup Matches as a player. However, after recovering from a severe pancreatitis diagnosis earlier this year Woods’ will be back on the team, but this time as the captain. “This opportunity is just another incredible blessing from God,” said Woods. “Seven short months ago things changed dramatically in my life. The future was unclear. By the grace of God I’ve been blessed with more time on this earth.”

The Challenge Cup matches are an invitation-only event. 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. The 2022 event will take place October 31 – November 1 at Holston Hills Country Club.

“All these players know how to play, my goal is to encourage them to be themselves,” explained Woods. “Each of them are ‘enough’ and that’s what we’ll need to get a result. These players are all great representatives of the Tennessee Section.”

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. The Professionals will look to win back the cup this year.