Ben Rickett could have followed former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golf teammates in the pursuit of a professional golf career.
Instead, he joined his coach on the fourth floor of McKenzie Arena and chose to remain as an amateur golfer.
“I enjoy playing amateur golf,” the British native said. “It’s something that I’d find hard to leave right now.”
Rickett said he plans to remain an amateur for some time, coach the Mocs along the way and win when he can.
He won Sunday.
Rickett captured the Chattanooga TPC championship at Council Fire Golf Club with a 2 and 1 victory over 41-year-old UTC graduate Chris Schmidt who spent 11 years as a professional.
“It’s never a bad thing, collecting trophies,” Rickett said. “Leading up to [UTC’s] last tournament I hadn’t been playing much, but when we hit the offseason, I’ve been able to play a bit so the right aspects of my game were on.”
His talent and a bit of practice allowed Rickett to earn medalist honors during qualifying and then advance through the 16-man match-play format of the tournament.
“My game has improved as the week has gone on,” Rickett said. “Over the last half of this morning’s match and this afternoon, I hit it great.”
Rickett beat former UTC golfer Brendon Wilson in 20 holes after being down two holes with two to play in the morning semifinal. Schmidt advanced by beating Richard Spangler 1 up.
In the afternoon final Rickett led Schmidt 2 up through three holes and never trailed in the afternoon. He won on No. 17 after watching Schmidt pull his tee shot left and into the hazard on the par-3, then playing safe and hitting to the right side from where he made a par to win.
“I didn’t have the goods today, it wasn’t there,” Schmidt said. “Even in the first match, I didn’t know where the ball was going, but I hung in there.
“Ben deserved to win more than I.”