William Nottingham (L) is tied with Lee Maxwell (R) at 5 under
(TGA photo)

The scorecard Maxwell turned in shortly afterwards backed up his statement. The Tennessee Tech alum started on No. 10 and made the turn at four-under-par after a clean first nine featuring four birdies. Maxwell made his first, and only, bogey of the day on No. 2, but found birdies on Nos. 4 & 7 to finish with a five-under-par 67. “I even left a few out there,” Maxwell said when reflecting on the opening round.

William Nottingham, who also started on No. 10, got off to a quiet one-under start through nine holes. There was nothing quiet about how Nottingham started his second nine. The Clemson sophomore holed out with a 4-iron from 210 yards on No. 1 for his first ever albatross. “I couldn’t see it go in, but Chase Roswall’s parents started cheering so I figured it went in,” Nottingham said.

Remarkably, Nottingham followed up his double-eagle with a birdie on the par 3 second hole, meaning he played the first two holes in four strokes, and four-under-par. Things calmed down for the three-time TGA champion who finished five-under-par to tie for the lead. Jack Rhea is just one shot behind the leaders after a four-under-par 68.

TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

When Chase Roswall signed his name on the dotted line, he made a commitment to play golf in college, and he made a commitment to himself. “My motivation is coming from the fact that I'm about to start the next chapter of my life playing for UT,” Roswall said. Back in June, Roswall entered the 17thTennessee Match Play Championship fresh off of high school graduation. After a four-over-par 76opening round, Roswall found his rhythm. A six-under-par 66 got the Tennessee commit into the match play bracket, eventually claiming his first TGA Championship. “Once I signed my national letter of intent, I made the promise to myself to give it my all and it's starting to pay off,” Roswall said. Rather than filling his schedule with junior events, Roswall made the conscious decision to challenge himself against tougher fields full of experienced amateurs.

Roswall teamed up with his future Volunteer teammate Spencer Crossin July for the 47th Tennessee Four-Ball Championship. The two high school graduates developed great chemistry throughout the week. Roswall made a 40-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to win the Four-Ball, giving Roswall his second championship of the summer. “I have so much confidence from these two wins, I do believe that I have the ability to compete with the best at this stage,” Roswall said. Unlike the match play, Roswall has a pair of wins in his back pocket entering the state amateur, “I think there is a huge advantage in going into a tournament after having a win,” Roswall said.

In order for Roswall to come away with a third TGA Championship, he is going to have to beat a handful of future teammates. Roswall’s four-ball partner, Cross, will tee it up at Belle Meade Country Club, in addition to current Volunteers Nolan Ray, Hunter Wolcott, and Brayden Garrison.

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