University of Memphis Athletics
Fly Wins 63rd Annual SunTrust Tennessee State Open
May 12, 2011 | Men's Golf
May 12, 2011
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -Jonathan Fly torched Brentwood Country Club with rounds of 66-64-67—197 to claim an eight-stroke victory in the 63rd annual SunTrust Tennessee State Open.
“I’ve been working on some really good things with my instructor, Dan Brown, and they’ve really paid off here and (at the Conference USA Championship),” Fly said.
Fly was one stroke out of the lead after an opening-round 66 before firing a tournament-low 64 in the second round to grab a five-stroke lead. A final-round 67 secured an eight-stroke victory less than two weeks after the redshirt-junior won the Conference USA Individual Title.
“Jonathan is playing really well right now,” Memphis head coach Grant Robbins said. “To win an event like the State Open by eight shots is incredible. We are all very proud of him.”
Competing against both professionals and amateurs from across the state of Tennessee, Fly beat out a group of experienced golfers for the championship title. Stephan Jaeger (a), Matthew Mincer, Alan McAfee and Tim Jackson (a) all finished tied for second with 54-hole totals of 205. Jackson is a two-time USGA Mid Amateur Champion and has competed in the Masters Tournament, US Open and US Senior Open.
The first TGA State Open was played in 1949. Pat Abbott of Memphis won with a score of 211 at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville. Abbott and Gibby Gilbert Jr., have each won the TGA State Open four times, but Mason Rudolph is the leader with a total of six. In 1978, amateur Sam Young became the first lefthander to win the prestigious tournament. Lately, the event has been dominated by amateurs who have won seven of the last nine events.
Fly and the Tigers will now set their sights on the NCAA Regionals. Memphis was selected as the No. 11 seed in the Indiana Regional and will compete against a 14-team field at the Wolf Run Golf Club May 19-21 for a berth in the NCAA Championship. “I’m feeling really confident right now,” Fly said. “I’m fired up and ready for the (NCAA) Regionals.”
Players Mentioned
