A personal record-setting performance by Nashville resident Ryan Terry became a Tennessee Mid-Amateur record-setting performance Saturday in the final round of the 2018 tournament at Black Creek Club.
Terry parlayed a final-round 63 into a 54-hole total of 17-under-par 199 to break the previous event mark of 211, winning the tournament championship by five strokes.
Matt Cooper of Collierville, the tournament's 2017 winner, and six-time champion Tim Jackson of Williston tied for second with aggregate 214s. Cooper shot a 64 in the final round, while Jackson had a 67.
Todd Burgan of Powell shot the previous record score in 2011 at Cleveland Country Club.
The title was Terry's first on the state level and his first in an event with multiple rounds. He had won an 18-hole event in the town where he grew up - Fendrick, Indiana - with a 62.
"After playing the practice round, I felt I could compete if I could make some putts," Terry remarked. "After playing it, I thought the course was soft and it would take a low score to win."
Terry putted exceptionally well. He had six one-putts for birdie and two-putted three of the four par-5s for birdie. But he also hit the ball well, hitting 17 greens in regulation. Terry also hit 16 greens in the first two rounds of the tournament.
"This was a validation that when I play well I can compete," he said. "I have worked real hard on my game, especially the short game, chipping and around the greens. In the past, my short game has been my weakness."
Terry has had a good year on the state level. He was ninth in the Tennessee Amateur and 15th in the State Open.
He credited his former coach at Lipscomb University, Will Brewer, with helping him improve his short game. Terry is employed by Southwestern Investment Group in Franklin.
Former Tennessee Wesleyan golfer Josh Wheeler, who led after the second round with a 133, shot a final-round 73 to tie for fifth at 210 with Joshua Collins of Maynardville. Collins had a final-round 67, as did fourth-place Lucas Armstrong (205).
Council Fire's Jeff Greeson finished with a 68 for a 208, good for seventh. Lookout Mountain's Winston Brown fired a 76 for a 214 and a tie for 14th, while Cres Dodd, another Council Fire representative, tied for 16th with a 215. Cleveland's Hunter Vest tied for 21st with a 217, and Wes Farris of Niota's Springbrook club tied for 28th with a 220.
Contact Sam Woolwine at sports@timesfreepress.com.