The long and proud history of the Signal Mountain Invitational has a star-studded list of winners and competitors.
It includes several eventual professional players - and a few PGA Tour winners - as well as a host of the area's and state's best amateur players through the years.
Sunday, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer Braedon Wear moved within a step of being among the best in the history of this historic local golf event.
Wear's 13-under-par final score was good for his second consecutive Signal Mountain title. He won last year's event at 16 under, which was one off the record set by former Baylor School and UTC star Stephan Jaeger, who is now a PGA Tour member.
"I'll definitely be back next year, and I want to top 17 - that's the one I want," said Read, who vowed to return in an attempt to match Jaeger as the tournament's only three-peat champion.
Even though his final tally was a few shots off last year's pace, Wear's all-around game and consistency on the electricity-quick greens at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club allowed him to cruise through Sunday's final round with just one bogey. His 65 turned a one-shot deficit at the start of the day into a five-shot win.
Wear toppled second-round leader and runner-up Andy Mao, who closed with a 71, as well as other area college golfers Takafumi Shimoji and Lucas Mota, who finished third and fourth at 7 under and 6 under, respectively.
Whether Wear can match Jaeger's all-time legacy in the tournament will have to wait another year, but the perfect weather and the pristine conditions left everyone involved with this event in the red.
"The Signal Mountain Invitiational is one of the great events the club hosts," head professional Paul Helle said. "It is always fun to see how our 6,000-yard course can hold up against some of the top-tier college and local players.
"The membership at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club is so gracious to have hosted it for nearly 80 years, and I can't thank all of our sponsors enough that help support this competition."
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timefreepress.com.