Jenkins, Gilliland captains for Tennessee Challenge Cup Matches near Crossville

photo Hunt Gilliland is a director for the PGA of America.

Chattanoogans Mike Jenkins and Hunt Gilliland will reprise their 2013 roles as captains in the Tennessee Challenge Cup Matches this Saturday and Sunday at Stonehenge Golf Club at Fairfield Glade near Crossville.

The competition pits 16 of the state's top amateur golfers against 16 professionals in a Ryder Cup-type format. The Tennessee Section PGA has a 27-18 series lead but has lost the last four times. Each team includes six senior players at least 50 years old.

Crossville Mayor J.H. Graham III will be the honorary assistant to longtime Tennessee Golf Association board member Jenkins with the amateurs, who include former Chattanoogans Nick Blakely and Josh Nelms and, among the senior players, Tennessee Wesleyan basketball and golf coach Mike Poe.

Gilliland, the director of golf at Council Fire, will have his course's head professional, Richard Rebne, and Springbrook's Craig Lee among the seniors and Crossville pros Kelvin Burgin and Greg Wyatt and former UTC player and Chattanooga G&CC assistant Matthew Brock in the younger group.

Four local juniors set

PGA Tour pro Scott Stallings, who grew up in Oak Ridge, again is hosting the third annual Tennessee Junior Cup golf competition Saturday and Sunday at The Grove Club at College Grove.

Chattanooga Christian seniors Lake Johnson and Scott Stevens, Baylor junior Katherine Holmes and Coffee County senior Hollee Sadler are on the 16-player Team East in the Ryder Cup-style event.

Roadrunners ranked

The Dalton State women's golf team featuring former Gordon Lee golfer Ashley McDonald and former Heritage golfer Rachel Rebne is ranked No. 13 in the NAIA by GolfStat two tournaments into its inaugural season. The Lady Roadrunners tied for fourth this week in the rain-shortened Lady Flames Invitational hosted by Lee University at Cleveland Country Club. They were the only NAIA team in the top five.

The DSC men's golf team, featuring Sean Elliott and former Murray County golfer Chase Jones, is ranked No. 15. Former UTC golfer Ben Rickett is the school's director of golf.

Everts repeats honor

Tennessee Tech junior Maddi Everts from Ooltewah was named Ohio Valley Conference women's golfer of the week for the second time in a row after winning the medal in a three-hole playoff in the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate at the Clarksville Country Club.

Everts shot a 144 (73-71) even in wet, windy conditions. She leads the OVC with a 74.5 stroke average.

Fall Festival today

The inaugural First Tee of Chattanooga Fall Festival will be held today from 4 to 7 p.m., including a long-drive championship and other contests.

"The Fall Festival is something we plan to make into an annual event," said Jenkins, president of the First Tee of Chattanooga. "This is a fundraiser and people are encouraged to come out and watch."

The ladies' final pits Ryan Kopet against Logan Cass. The men's semifinals are Matt Hadden versus Keoni Vidrine and Matt Crowder versus David Watts. The senior finalists are Richard Keene and Jim Srite.

"SportTalk" on 102.3 FM will have a live remote from the Hickory Valley Road facility.

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