Chattanooga Classic tournament officials decided to make all area pros and amateurs who want a spot in the Nationwide Tour event earn their spot.
They get their shot Monday.
Nearly 20 Chattanooga-area golfers are among the 162 entrants in the Monday qualifiers.
Half of the field, including former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standouts Jonathan Hodge and Derek Rende, will play at Cleveland Country Club. The other half – including Bryce Ledford, Adam Mitchell and Gibby Gilbert III – will play at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.
The top seven at each site will play at Black Creek at least Thursday and Friday against Nationwide Tour regulars.
“It’s one of those things where you know you have to shoot low,” said former Baylor golfer Seth Brandon from Dalton, who is in his rookie season as a professional. “I want to put the pedal down and try to get in.”
Brandon and a handful of other area pros have spent the summer playing on various mini-tours without the promise of big paychecks such as the $90,000 going to next Sunday’s winner. The former Indiana University golfer missed qualifying for the Knoxville Open by one stroke. For him and many of the other qualifiers, the Classic could be a career boost.
“I’m looking at this as a jump-start, and it would be special because I’ve played most of my golf here at Black Creek,” Brandon said. “I want to go into Monday with a sharp mind and set my mind to win the qualifier and not just advance.”
Paul Apyan won $1,000 in a one-day event on the Open Golf Atlanta series less than two weeks ago.
“It’s $1,000 bucks I didn’t have,” said Apyan, who played at Hixson before going to Southern Miss. “I’ve been looking at those as practice for the qualifiers.
“I’d love to play in it again. You get in once, you want to do it again.”
The area players could have an easier time getting through to the Classic this year because many of the Monday regulars are attempting to qualify for a PGA Tour fall series event.
The 162 participants Monday is down from 219 last year, 203 in 2008 and the 220 who tried in 2007.
“I’m a little disappointed in that,” said David Olinger, the TPGA tournament director. “What I’m hears from a lot of guys is that players are going over to Georgia. Plus, it’s later in the season and some guys are just taking a break.”
The 14 who advance still need solid scores at their course.
“It seems that no matter how many players there are, it takes a 66 or 67 to get in,” Olinger said. “Guys might have a better percentage chance, but you’ll still probably need to shoot a 67.”