The 1996 NCAA championship at The Honors Course drew about 5,000 spectators to Ooltewah for the final round.
Most were there to see a young Tiger Woods, who played the first three rounds in the 60s.
There is nobody with his amateur resume playing in the season-sending tournament this year. But the best golfers in college will take their shots at Pete Dye’s paradise for at least three rounds beginning Tuesday.
Some of them have stellar careers and promising futures as professionals on the PGA Tour.
Perhaps the next U.S. Amateur winner is here. Perhaps a U.S. Open contestant will finish in the middle of the pack, then shine at Pebble Beach.