Golfers Converge on GreyStone for State Open By Marty Allison Dickson Sports Online
For the fifth straight year golfers from around the state will make their way to Dickson for the Coca-Cola Men's State Open, and for the fifth straight year GreyStone Golf Club will play host for the tournament.
The field of amateurs and professionals will play in the 55th annual event for the trophy, bragging rights, and if you are on the pro side, $30,000. Local pro Bob Wolcott is back to defend his professional title, as is 2002 champion Tim Jackson.
In all, 12 past champions will battle 137 other golfers for the Open title. The champions list includes Bobby Bray (1974), Kip Henley (1982, 1997), Wolcott (1983), Gary Robinson (1984), Rob Long (1987), Steve Munson (1991), Bobby Nichols (1992), Chuck Jabaley (1994), Walt Chapman (1996), Garrett Willis (2000), Trey Lewis (2001) and Jackson (2001). Nearly 400 golfers played in qualifying rounds and 41 players in this year's field were given exemptions.
On the local front, Wolcott, Eric Briggs and Keith Dotson will be in the field. Briggs is the new assistant pro at GreyStone and anyone in the area knows what Wolcott and Dotson are capable of doing on the course.
The field also consists of an excellent crop of amatuers. Jackson and Trey Lewis have won the last two Opens and Jackson usually ranks high among amatuers around the world. Other top ranked amateurs include Danny Green (No. 21), Troy Matteson (No. 25), Casey Wittenberg (No. 43) and Andrew Black (No. 64). Jackson is currently ranked No. 30 according to Golf Week in the world amateurs rankings.
Several top collegiate players will be bringing their games to GreyStone. Brandt Snedeker, currently ranked No. 7 in college golf, was ranked No. 1 earlier in the year. Snedeker was recently named as the Southeastern Conference Player-of-the-Year. Joining Snedeker will be the Ohio Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year, Matt Gallant and his teammate at Austin Peay, Ryan Strickland. Strickland and Gallant are fresh off an NCAA West Regional appearance in which they finished 36th and 78th respectively.
All eyes will be on PGA Touring pro Garrett Willis as he returns to the Open Championship for the first time since his 2000 win. Willis went on to win the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open in 2001 and has played in 14 PGA events in 2003. Willis also had a second place finish at the 2002 Valero Texas Open.
The Open Championship, presented by Grand Casino, gets underway on Wednesday and runs through Friday, May 23. |