Mitch HufstetlerIt takes skill, luck and success to earn an invitation to the Chattanooga TPC Finals.
It's the season-ending tournament, which begins today at Council Fire Golf Club, that rewards consistent play in sanctioned Chattanooga area events, as well as Tennessee Golf Association and USGA tournaments.
"You had to do something special this year to get in," said participant Mitch Hufstetler. "It is a true invitational tournament, and those are pretty cool."
Hufstetler has had an incredible season in the Chattanooga TPC series events. In fact, he's undefeated since moving up a set of tees this season.
Hufstetler won the senior division of the Signal Mountain Invitational, the Cleveland Invitational, the North Georgia Invitatinal, the Chattanooga Men's Metro and the Brainerd Invitational.
He's undefeated.
"Winning the TPC would cap the greatest golf year I've ever had," Hufstetler said. "It's already been better than I ever dreamed it could be.
"To win all five [TPC sanctioned] tournaments is mind-boggling."
Hufstetler will be competing in a field of 10 seniors for the prestigious trophy.
The regular division includes several of the top amateurs in the area including David Watts, Matt Robertson, Cody Gofrey and Chris Schmidt.
All are in contention to win the Adman Cup player of the year award.
"It's a very strong field," TPC president Mike Jenkins said. "Of the 32 golfers competing, 28 percent of the field is former TPC champions."
Those include Pat Corey and Richard Keene in the senior division, along with Neil Spitalny, Chrs Treadway, Jimmy White III, Tom Schreiner, Chris Schmidt , Brandon Cissom and defending champion Matt Crowder.
After a stroke-play round today, the low 16 in the regular division and the top four in Hufstetler's division will be trimmed down to match-play participants. The senior winner will be determined on Saturday and the regular division on Sunday.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.