Chase Roswall, the 2017 Tennessee Match Play champion
(Golf House Tennessee photo)
NASHVILLE, TN (June 16, 2017) -
Chase Roswall drove away from Hillwood Country Club full of confidence after knocking off the medalist Chris Barron in the quarterfinals. Apparently, the confidence was waiting in his car this morning when Roswall drove back to Hillwood. Roswall showed no signs of being intimidated despite playing the 2012 SunTrust Tennessee State Open champion
Craig Smith in the semifinals. Smith got ahead early winning No. 5 to go 1up. Remarkably, that would be the last hole Smith would win. Roswall evened the match on No. 6 before taking the lead on No. 9. “It seemed like neither of us could make a putt. We both hit green after green but putts were not falling,” Roswall said. Despite not putting like he had earlier in the week, Roswall won No. 17 to win the match 3 & 1.
Trevor Johnson battled through two fellow college players Thursday to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Matt Cooper beat Tim Jackson, the trophy’s namesake, to get to his third consecutive Match Play Championship semifinal. After falling behind early, Cooper posted back-to-back-to-back birdies to win Nos. 8-10 to take a 2up lead. Johnson fought back and made a 15-footer for birdie on No. 16 to square the match. Cooper looked to be in trouble on No. 18 but hit a miraculous shot from the rough while having to stand in the bunker which led to a tap in par and a 1up victory, and a trip to the championship match.
The championship match started with a pair of pars. Then the future Tennessee Volunteer put his foot on the gas. By the time the match got to the teeing ground on No. 7, Roswall had a 5up lead after winning five straight holes. “I knew I needed to make more putts to win so in between matches I hit the practice green,” Roswall explained.
Cooper kept fighting. The Memphis alum won back to back holes to get back within three. Roswall picked up a huge birdie on No. 9 to get the lead back to 4up. Cooper bounced back again with a birdie to win No. 10. After halving No. 11 the recent high school graduate regained his 4up lead by winning No. 12. Both players birdied No. 13 setting the stage for Roswall to close out the match. Roswall made par to win No. 14, giving him a 5 & 4 victory and making him the 17th Tennessee Match Play Champion.
Roswall’s earned his first TGA Championship by beating quality, more experience players. “It was such an honor to play with these guys. There is so much I can learn from them,” Roswall said. Roswall will be more familiar with some of the field when he uses the exemption he earned into the 102nd State Amateur.
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ABOUT THE
Tennessee Match Play
This match play event adopts the format used by the
PGA Tour for the World
Golf Championships Match Play tournament. Under
this format, a field of 64
players will be divided into 16 groups of four players
each. Each group will play
a round-robin format with each competitor playing
three matches within their
group. A player will receive one point for a win, a
half point for a tie, and each
group’s winner will advance to the round of 16.
Applications are open to
amateurs who possess an active USGA/GHIN
Handicap Index of 8.0 or less from
a TGA member club or course.
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