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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Southern Amateur champion Maguire thankful for friendship

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champion-maguire-thankful-for-friendship champion-maguire-thankful-for-friendship
photo M.J. Maguire chips the ball onto the green during the final round of the Southern Amateur Championship golf tournament Saturday, July 19, 2014, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. Maguire, from St. Petersburg, Fla., won the tournament.

Keith Mitchell devoured some pizza slices at Lupi’s in Ooltewah after he finished his final found of the Southern Amateur.

He kept his phone close. It gave live updates. Mitchell almost choked on when he saw M.J. Maguire held the lead with two holes to play.

Mitchell needed to witness the finish.

“I had to get back,” said Mitchell, a former Baylor School golfer who tied for 20th in the prestigious amateur event.

After all, Mitchell is the one who talked Maguire into playing this past week at The Honors Course.