Tennessee high school golfers to watch, storylines for 2023 TSSAA state championships
The TSSAA boys and girls golf state tournaments will take place this week in Sevierville.
Here’s your guide to the events, from fan information to storylines and players to watch.
Admission
Tickets are $12 per day if purchased in advance on GoFan. They are $15 per day if purchased at the gate. Everyone school-age and older must purchase a ticket.
Tournament dates/locations
Division I boys: Class AA (Oct. 9-10, Sevierville Golf Club, River Course); Class A (Oct. 12-13, Sevierville Golf Club, River Course)
Division II boys: DII-A (Oct. 12-13, Sevierville Golf Club, River Course); DII-AA (Oct. 9-10, Sevierville Golf Club, River Course)
Division I girls: Class A (Oct. 12-13, Sevierville Golf Club, Highlands Course); Class AA (Oct. 9-10, Sevierville Golf Club, Highlands Course)
Division II girls: DII-A (Oct. 12-13, Sevierville Golf Club, Highlands Course); DII-AA (Oct. 9-10, Sevierville Golf Club, Highlands Course)
Storylines
Blades Brown’s quest for five: Brentwood Academy sophomore sensation Blades Brown, one of the top junior golfers in the nation, will try to win his third consecutive Division II-AA state title as part of his quest to become the first player to win five TSSAA state titles.
More: How 16-year-old phenom Blades Brown may be among best golfers in Tennessee history
Brentwood-Collierville shuffle in Class AA: Brentwood won the boys state title in 2021 and Collierville unseated the Bruins last season. Brentwood could steal it back. The Region 6 champions shot a 10-under 274 behind the play of Sam Johnson, who carded a 6-under 65 at Franklin Bridge Golf Club.
Class A girls individual race open again: Former Gordonsville star Sophie Linder, now playing at Ole Miss, was the Class A medalist four years in a row before graduating. Summertown’s Karlie Campbell, a Kentucky commitment, has been the runner-up all four years and will try to cap her career with a title.
Players to watch
Boys
Blades Brown, Brentwood Academy: The sophomore is going for his third consecutive DII-AA state title. He fired a two-day 134 to finish 10 under and win by three strokes last year. In August, at 16, he became the youngest co-medalist in U.S. Amateur championship history, two years younger than Bobby Jones.
Tanner Varney, Christian Academy of Knoxville: He finished 16th at last year's DII-A state championship to lead CAK to its sixth consecutive title. He fired 68 last week to win the DII-A East Region tournament.
Hil Thompson, Christian Brothers, Sr.: Thompson, a Tennessee Tech commit, shot 71-71 in last year’s DII-AA state tournament to tie for fourth.
Jackson Herrington, Dickson Co.: The Tennessee commitment was last year’s Class AA state champion, winning the title by four strokes and shooting 6-under (138) during the tournament.
William Bacon, Kingston: He could challenge Summertown's Cole Campbell for the Class A title a year ago. He placed third last year after shooting 72-73 to finish 1 over after two rounds. He won the Region 2 tournament last week with a 5-under 67.
Cole Campbell, Summertown: Campbell captured the Class A state title last season, shooting a 66-75 over two days. He averaged 70.5 for the year.
Thatsakon Phothong, Webb School - Bell Buckle, eighth grade: He was the DII-A Middle Region medalist last week after firing a 66.
Girls
Carlee Rogers, Baylor: She tied for sixth in last year’s DII-AA state tournament and shot 70 to win the East Region tournament last week.
Savannah Cherry, Ensworth: Cherry finished third in the DII-AA state tournament last season, firing 73-76 to lead Ensworth to the team title.
Brylee Crouse, Kingston: Crouse placed fourth in the Class A state tournament last year and won the Region 2 tournament last week with a 69.
Lauren Davis, Knoxville Halls: Davis shot 73-79 and tied for ninth in the Class AA state tournament last year.
Caroline Pardue, Providence Christian: Pardue led PCA to a second consecutive DII-A state title last year, shooting 78-68 to finish fourth. The 2021 state champion enters the week as the Middle Region tournament medalist after firing a 65 last week.
Karlie Campbell, Summertown: Campbell shot 66-66, but lost in a playoff to finish second in last year’s Class A state tournament for the fourth consecutive season to Sophie Linder. Campbell led Summertown to its fifth straight team title.
More: Ole Miss commitment Sophie Linder wins fourth straight TSSAA golf state title
Grace Denegri, St. Agnes: She was the DII-AA West Region tournament medalist last week, shooting a 6-under 66. She finished 18th in the state tournament last year.
Lauren Slatton, Warren County: She finished second in Class AA last year shooting 70-71 to finish 1 over.
Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to know about TSSAA 2023 boys and girls golf state championships
