Matt Cooper (TN Golf Association)

Flexing its muscles, TPC Southwind played tough despite near perfect weather in the Memphis area over the course of the three day event.

Matt Cooper, a former University of Memphis golfer, was able to hold on for a playoff win over Lee Maxwell and Todd Burgan. As the lone player under par, Cooper began the day two under as Burgan was five shots off and Maxwell was six shots off the lead respectively.

With Burgan two groups ahead and Maxell four groups ahead, Cooper was focused on those within his group while plodding his way through the final 18.

One of 10 rounds in the 80s on Sunday, Cooper’s slide began on No. 2 where he carded a triple bogey seven. Able to get one shot back on the par-5 5th, the former Memphis Tiger dropped a shot on the proceeding 6th, a double bogey on the 7th before bookending the rollercoaster stretch with a birdie on the 8th.

Out in 40 (+4), Cooper needed to stop the bleeding. Still leaking, Cooper began the back nine bogey, birdie, bogey. Shaking the bogey train for a bit, he was able to string together four pars before losing the lead with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 to find himself in a playoff with Burgan and Maxwell who tallied final rounds of 73 and 72 respectively.

In the playoff, the two steady hands of the day were not able to gain an upper hand on Cooper’s roller coaster who walked in a birdie on the par-4 18th for the win.

The win marks Cooper’s second Tennessee Mid-Amateur championship as he won in similar fashion in 2017. He also picked up a win in 2014 at the Memphis Mid-Am championship.

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