(Jackson, TN) – The next tournament on the TNPGA schedule brings us to Jackson, TN for the 11th annual Goat Turf Players Championship on June 26-27 at Jackson Country Club. The Goat Turf Players Championship is an individual 36-hole stroke play championship with four divisions: Professional, Senior Professional, Amateur, and Senior Amateur. The Players Championship dates back to 2012 and has seen two repeat winners, Johan Kok, PGA ( 2015, 2021) and Loren Personett, PGA (2012, 2017). The historic Jackson Country Club plays host this year and will present a challenge for players with West TN’s version of “Amen Corner” with holes 10, 11, and 12; which are quoted as the hardest three holes Byron Nelson ever played in succession in his career. For a hole-by-hole course breakdown visit here.
DATES: June 26-27, 2023
OFFICIAL NAME: Goat Turf Players Championship
HASHTAGS: #TheGoat
VENUE: Jackson Country Club – Jackson, TN
PAR/YARDS: 72 – 6,850 yards
PURSE MONEY: $22,000 estimated
PAST CHAMPIONS: https://shorturl.at/suCQT
FIELD OVERVIEW
SIZE: 92 players
FIELD LIST: https://shorturl.at/kmAM8
First Round Pairings: https://shorturl.at/jDEJU
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Sunday: Practice Rounds
Monday: Round 1, 8 AM Start
Tuesday: Round 2, 8 AM Start, Awards Presentation Following
NOTES ON THE LIST OF COMPETITORS:
The overall division defending champion Lucas Armstrong (a) will not be in the field this year paving a way for someone new to claim the title. Loren Personett, PGA will look to make history at this year’s Championship by being the first to win the championship three times. Personett is coming off a T-6 performance at the Tennessee Senior State Open earlier this month. Personett has seen success at Jackson Country Club where in 2021 he won the Tennessee PGA Professional Championship, he’ll try to match that again this week. PGA Professional Josh Bevell comes into this year’s Goat Turf Players Championship just as hot as anyone around. Bevell has one win and two T-2 showings so far this year in professional events. In late April Bevell traveled to New Mexico to compete in the 2023 PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors & Santa Ana Golf Club. Bevell had a strong showing making the first of two cuts after posting a 36-hole 142 total (-2). In this year’s Tennessee State Open Bevell finished 3-under in a tie for 43rd. When it comes to PGA Professionals in Tennessee, Braxton Hunter has been among the very best in recent years. He’s finished third or better in the Tennessee Section Player of the Year rankings every year since 2018, including a first-place finish in 2020. He has 16 first-place finishes in his career, including five just last season. This year’s field is also stacked with some notable amateurs. Aaron Ingalls of Jackson, TN is as good as they come when it comes to amateurs across the state. Ingalls finished tied for 11th last year in the Players Championship. Matt Mitchell (a) of Burns, TN comes into this year’s event after finishing tied for 8th at Stones River Country Club last year. Past Champion Ryan Botts, PGA and will also be in this year’s field.
Action gets underway at 8:00 A.M. CT both tournament days with a single tee starting off No. 1 tee. After rounds one and two the field will be repaired based on scores with leaders teeing off last. A trophy presentation by the clubhouse will follow the final round of play. Attendance is free to the public.