A true cornerstone of the Volunteer State’s golfing calendar, the Tennessee Senior State Open is set to return to Fairfield Glade Community for its 17th consecutive year. Stonehenge Golf Club has proudly served as the tournament’s permanent home since it first launched in 2009.
Celebrated for attracting a premier lineup of PGA professionals and elite amateurs, the event boasts a historic roster of past winners, including multiple Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s 36-hole championship will showcase 126 of the region’s finest players, featuring a 102-golfer Championship Division alongside a 24-player Super Senior Division.
Ahead of the tournament, several standout competitors have emerged as players to watch in the 2026 field.
Bill Breen, PGA: A dominant force in Tennessee senior golf, Breen serves as the PGA Teaching Professional at Harpeth Valley Golf Center. He enters the 2026 field as a four-time Tennessee Senior State Open Champion (2013, 2016, 2020, 2022). He also holds a 2020 Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship title and was named the Tennessee PGA Senior Player of the Year (2016, 2022).
Kelvin Burgin, PGA: A proud Crossville native, Burgin brings both deep local roots and an impressive championship pedigree to the 2026 field. He is a standout four-time winner of the Tennessee PGA Professional Championship, capturing titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2013. Additionally, the seasoned local champion is a two-time Tennessee Assistant PGA Professional Champion, having secured victories in 1998 and 2000.
Buzz Fly (a): One of the most dominant amateur players in the state, Fly arrives at Stonehenge with an exceptional track record. He is a two-time Senior State Open Champion in the Super Senior Division, claiming titles in 2022 and 2024. He also holds five consecutive TGA Super Senior Amateur Championship titles (2021–2025) and a pair of TGA Senior Four-Ball Championships (2016, 2019).
Steve Golliher (a): Bringing decades of championship experience to the field, Golliher is one of Tennessee’s most enduring amateur competitors. His individual accolades include winning the 2018 Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship and being named the Men’s Senior Amateur of the Year in both 2010 and 2013. A premier team player, Golliher is also a four-time Four-Ball Champion, capturing the State Four-Ball title three times (1985, 1988, 1998) and the Senior State Four-Ball title in 2017.
Kip Henley (a): From Crossville, Henley returns to familiar territory as one of the field’s top players to watch. He captured the Senior State Open Championship right here at Stonehenge in 2023, nearly three decades after winning the 1997 Tennessee State Open title. A highly decorated competitor, Henley is also a four-time Tennessee PGA Professional Champion (1993, 1994, 2005, 2010) and recently tied for second place at the 2024 City of Crossville Team Championship.
Glenn Hudson, PGA: Representing Dick’s House of Sport in Knoxville as their PGA Professional, Hudson enters the 2026 field backed by stellar recent performances. He captured the Senior Division title at the 2024 Goat Turf Players Championship and followed it up with a runner-up finish at the 55th Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Championship. His long-standing excellence in the state is anchored by his selection as the Tennessee PGA Player of the Year in 2016.
Cliff Kresge, PGA: Kresge enters Stonehenge as the reigning 2025 Tennessee Senior State Open Champion. A former PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions member, he also captured the Senior State Open title in 2021. With a world-class pedigree and career earnings surpassing $5 million on the game’s biggest stages, the two-time champion brings elite professional experience to the 2026 field.
Steve Mann (a): A consistently strong presence in the state’s amateur ranks, Mann comes to Stonehenge with an impressive recent track record. He captured the 2023 TGA Super Senior Amateur Championship title and is coming off a stellar performance last year, where he secured a runner-up finish at the 2025 Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship.
Joe Markham (a): A prolific winner on the amateur circuit, Markham returns to the site of one of his biggest career victories, capturing the title at the 2024 Tennessee Senior State Open right here at Stonehenge. His championship pedigree includes individual titles at the 2023 Signal Mountain Invitational, the 2022 Willow Creek Invitational, and the 2022 Chattanooga Men’s Metro, as well as a co-champion finish at the 2024 Willow Creek Invitational.
Jared Melson, PGA: Representing Bear Trace at Tims Ford as their PGA Professional, Melson enters the field as one of the most dominant forces in Tennessee golf. He is the reigning back-to-back Tennessee Senior PGA Professional Champion (2024, 2025) and a staggering seven-time Tennessee PGA Senior Player of the Year. Melson has a strong history at Stonehenge, having tied for first at the 2023 Senior State Open, and recently showcased his skills on the national stage by competing in the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes, OR.
Loren Personett, PGA: Personett brings an unparalleled resume to the 2026 field. He is a former champion of the 53rd Tennessee PGA Professional Championship. His historic career is anchored by an astonishing 11 Tennessee PGA Player of the Year titles, spanning nearly two decades (2002–2004, 2006, 2008–2010, 2013–2015, and 2017).
Jake Reeves, PGA: Reeves serves as the PGA Director of Instruction at Fox Den Country Club. On the course, he is a former champion of the 2014 Tennessee PGA Players Championship. His high-caliber play was showcased on the national stage when he qualified for the prestigious 2024 Senior PGA Championship, making him a formidable contender at Stonehenge.
Stuart Smith (a): The reigning Champion of the Super Senior Division, Smith returns to Stonehenge to defend his crown after capturing the 2025 Tennessee Senior State Open Super Senior Division title. No stranger to success at this event, he also claimed an impressive third-place finish in the overall tournament back in 2020.
The Tennessee Senior State Open boasts a storied history of champions, showcasing a fierce annual battle between the state’s top PGA Professionals and elite amateurs:
- 2025: Cliff Kresge, PGA
- 2024: Joe Markham (a)
- 2023: Kip Henley (a)
- 2022: Bill Breen, PGA
- 2021: Cliff Kresge, PGA
- 2020: Bill Breen, PGA
- 2019: Walt Chapman, PGA
- 2018: Gibby Gilbert III, PGA
- 2017: Gibby Gilbert III, PGA
- 2016: Bill Breen, PGA & Gibby Gilbert III, PGA (Co-Champions)
- 2015: Doug Harris (a)
- 2014: Randy Helton, PGA
- 2013: Bill Breen, PGA
- 2012: Harry Taylor, PGA & Danny Green (a) (Co-Champions)
- 2011: Tim Jackson (a)
- 2010: Harry Taylor, PGA
The Tennessee PGA extends its deepest appreciation to the dedicated partners and sponsors whose generosity makes the Tennessee Senior State Open possible. Their unwavering support preserves the rich tradition and competitive excellence of this premier championship:
Leading the way as a title partner for this year’s Senior State Open is Fairfield Glade Community Club, an affordable, 12,000+ acre resort community perched 2,000 feet above sea level on Tennessee’s stunning Cumberland Plateau. This premier destination boasts five championship golf courses, including the renowned Stonehenge Golf Course, alongside world-class tennis, pickleball, 11 spring-fed lakes, and a massive 36,000-square-foot community center packed with top-tier wellness amenities.
We extend our gratitude to our Supporting Partners, whose generous contributions and vital commitment to the game ensure a premier tournament experience for all our competitors and guests.
- Antigua Apparel
- Bobby Jones Links
- Sterling Cut Glass
To follow live scoring, view official tee times, and access complete tournament coverage for the 2026 Tennessee Senior State Open, please visit the Tennessee PGA Official Tournament Page.