NASHVILLE --- Three former Tennessee State golfers placed in the top five of the James H. Fyke Municipal Men’s Amateur Championship. Scotty Hudson, Rosario Falzone and Jermey Fultz all finished under par for the two-day event on Aug. 29-30. Day one was played at the Harpeth Hills Golf Course, while the final 18 holes took place at Ted Rhodes Golf Course.
Hudson placed third in the tournament, carding a 6-under, 140, finishing two strokes off the lead. Falzone and Fultz closed out the Fyke Municipal in a tie for fifth with a 2-under, 142.
Former Tiger Jay Grove (2016-18) also competed over the weekend and shot a 5-over, 149, good for a tie for 18th in a field of 52 golfers.
Hudson fired a 71 on day one and needed to shoot 8-under on the back nine on day two to have a chance at the title. The 2019 graduate made a charge with four birdies and an eagle for a 69 to get within two strokes.
“I wasn’t doing anything really special except,” Hudson said. “I kept the ball in play, giving myself chances to make birdies. But this was a special event having three TSU alums with a chance to win.”
Falzone registered three birdies to shoot an Even, 72, on day one. The 2019 graduate would get things started with a birdie on the par-3, 6th, as he hit a 6-iron off the tee box from 181 yards, traveling uphill to eight feet of the pin. On day two, Falzone carded a 2-under, 70, with five birdies, highlighted by a 30-foot putt for birdie on the par-3, 9th.
“I felt good about my game all week,” Falzone stated. “I was confident and relaxed going into the final round knowing I was in a good spot with a chance to win. Unfortunately I had tough yardages all day, I was in between clubs on just about every shot, and that made it tough to attack the pin. All in all, I’m happy enough with the result, but far happier with where my game is at. I feel I’ve made a huge step in my game over the past year, and am excited to get into the offseason to continue improving. Obviously COVID-19 cancelled a lot of events this year, but the few tournaments I got to play proved to me that I’m headed in the right direction.”
Fultz was consistent on both days, finding 12 of 18 greens each day. The 2018 graduate was effective with his pitching wedge as he hit approach shots to 10 feet on both No. 8 and No. 9 for back-to-back birdies. Fultz entered the final day at 1-over and recorded four birdies to card a 3-under, 69. The Knoxville, Tenn. native got off to a fast start with three birdies on the front nine.
Groves sat three strokes out of the top spot after day one after posting a 33 on the backside of Harpeth Hills. The former Tiger enjoyed early success on the final day with birdies on No. 5 and No. 8. But Groves fell off the pace on the back nine at Ted Rhodes.
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