GolfNewsOfTennessee.Com

[Glenn Makin]

First round leader Chris Atkins set the pace on Saturday with a blistering 6-under (66) to lead defending champion Matt King as well as Josh Collins and Phillip Lee by two shots. With the championship tees played on Sunday it changed the length and outcome of the tournament.
Atkins, as good a player he is, couldn't handle the extra 600 yards Sunday and soon fell off the pace as King, Collins and Lee were battling for the top spot.
Collins, who won the Woodlake 2-Man with King the last week, dropped three back with four to play and Lee, who won the Clinchview Invitational title on Memorial Weekend, was tied with King going into the 16th hole. King parred the 16th from the bunker and Lee narrowly missed his par putt. On the 17th King went two up as he birdied from three feet. Lee had a chip to the green that scooted by the hole twelve feet and he missed the birdie putt. Collins birded the 17th to pull within two shots.
On the 18th hole King hit his approach shot to the back right bunker and then missed a par putt to make bogie. Lee was on the same line but didn't make it to the bunker. His 40-footer to even the score came up short and he parred to leave the title in Kings' hands for the second year straight.
We ask King if he preferred being the chaser this year or being the chasee last year. With a hint of emotion in his answer, "I never thought of it that way, I just thought last year it was such a relief to finally win the tournament. But this year it means so much more to me. It is a very special feeling to win again and I really think this is my best win."
King will enter the University of Tennessee this Fall to finish his degree after playing golf at two other colleges. With eligibility remaining he has been offered full scholarships at other schools but says he doesn't want to play golf, he just wants to complete his education. "I'm finished with college golf, I've been going to Pelissipi and I'm ready to move on to Tennessee to and finish." He works for Universal Forms owned by his dad Danny King and will continue there while he is in school.
Watch for King to be back next year to defend his title for the third time.
In the First Flight Bowen Newgent, son of Head Professional Sam Newgent of Beverly Park Par-3 and former Head Professional at Three Ridges, held on to beat Kevin Gryder and Brad Musgrave by one shot. Gryder won the Royal Oaks Invitational earlier this season. Former Knox County Champion (1993 innaugral event) Scott Strike was fourth and Rick Harrell of Sevierville was fifth.
In the Second Flight Jason Rice pulled away from the lead group of six players to post an even par round and win by five shots over Jeremy Arnwine. Wayne Zenner and Frank Palmer were a distant third.
In the Third Flight Jim Brown of Knoxville found himself in trouble all day Saturday posting an 88 round and started one back. He improved by 10 shots on Sunday to win by three shots over Jackie Monroe.
Danny Maples of Knoxville was the winner of the Senior Division after the sharing the lead on Saturday with Rick Mixon. Maples matched his Saturday score of 71 to win by three shots over Mixon. Paul "The Legend" Morton tangled with Ted Arsenault to tie for third as both players matched their scores both days.
Mark Brown and his staff put on one of the best shows in the history of the tournament with excellent course conditions, food and beverages flowing on Saturday in the Pavillion and a payout with 7 places paid in each flight. Three cheers for Three Ridges.
Results:
Championship
1st- Matt King 68-72--140
2nd- Phillip Lee 68-73--141
3rd- Josh Collins 68-75--143
4th- French Bolen 71-73--144
5th- Greg Nichols 73-72--144
First Flight
1st- Bowen Newgent 75-71--146
2nd- Kevin Gryder 75-72--147
2nd- Brad Musgrave 76-71--147
4th- Scott Strike 78-70--148
5th- Casey Flenniken 77-73--150
5th- Rick Harrell 74-76--150
Second Flight
1st- Jason Rice 79-72--151
2nd- Jeremy Arnwine 79-77--156
3rd- Wayne Zenner 80-77--157
3rd- Frank Palmer 80-77--157
5th- Brogan Newgent 80-79--159
Third Flight
1st- Jim Brown 88-78--166
2nd- Jackie Monroe 89-80--169
3rd- Steven Shumate 88-82--170
4th- D. Thomas 87-84--171
5th- Jeff Wanterberger 90-83--173
Senior Division
1st- Danny Maples 71-71--142
2nd- Rick Mixon 71-74--145
3rd- Ted Arsenault 74-76--150
3rd- Paul Morton 74-76--150
5th- Rock Saraceni 77-76--153
5th- Ron May 75-78--153
2009 Shoot-Out Winner Eric Rose