After spending the last three days trying to solve the grueling test presented by the Lookout Mountain Club’s demanding layout, Todd Burgan knew that he had not taken on that challenge alone after winning the 56th Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship on Friday.
In fact, Burgan planned to make one detour stop on his trip home to Powell to celebrate with the man who made his victory possible, Zeb Patten.
Patten was unable to attend the tournament being played on his home course while recuperating in a local hospital from injuries incurred two weeks ago when the airplane he was piloting crashed in the north Georgia mountains due to engine failure.
Patten was considered a favorite to compete for the title given his understanding of the intricacies that make LMC a mystery to those unfamiliar with its puzzling greens. Two days prior to his accident, Patten had given Burgan a quick study of the various nuances of the golf course during a practice round, and he took copious notes that came in handy this week.
“I wanted to win this for Zeb with everything that happened,” Burgan said. “Last night, I couldn’t put it out of my mind when things like that normally don’t bother me. So, there were a lot of emotions out there today.”
Wearing a “ZP” pin on his hat that many competitors adorned as a salute to Patten, Burgan was able to win by four shots with a final score of 6-over par. After signing his scorecard, he was thrilled to make a beeline to Siskin Hospital to thank Patten for his guidance and to present numerous cards from his fellow competitors wishing their comrade a speedy recovery.
“This is such a local knowledge golf course, more than any golf course I've ever played in my life,” Burgan said. “When I came up and rode in the cart with him all the way around, he just coached me and gave me tips the whole way. I probably would not have won this thing if it hadn’t been for that day with Zeb. If you don't know how to play the holes, this golf course keeps you doubting and you never can feel comfortable.”
Burgan opened with a four-shot lead that he maintained through seven holes despite carding three bogeys. But a birdie at No. 8 followed by a challenging up-and-down for par at No. 9 after finding a fairway bunker with his drive steadied his round.
“Those two holes righted the ship,” Burgan said. “It was like, ‘OK, I'm back. I can play my game.’ I was just kind of playing very conservative coming in, hitting it to the fat parts of the green.”
Burgan credits his ability to remain undistracted by the potential carnage at every hole as a key to his victory.
“I showed some perseverance out there,” Burgan said. “I just tried to put my head down and play one hole at a time. I know it sounds like a cliché, but every single hole out here is a possible double bogey at any particular time, even if you hit good shots.”
Burgan posted five pars to open his final nine before alternating bogeys and pars over his last four holes to close with a 74 that led to a total score of 6 over for the week.
Franklin’s Steven Mann picked up a pair of late birdies to finish second at 10 over after shooting a final round 71. Kenny Wilson of Murfreesboro was third with a three-day aggregate of 12 over.
Williston’s Mike Albonetti and Pat Chisholm of Franklin tied for fourth at 13 over, one shot clear of Charles May of Nashville at 14 over. A trio of golfers tied for seventh that included Lookout Mountain’s Steve Johnson, defending champion Bradford Kuester of Knoxville, and Alan Jones of Tullahoma.
Burgan’s victory comes on the heels of winning the Tennessee Senior Match Play for the second time earlier in the year. He has accumulated nine TGA titles in his career, moving closer to a personal goal he set for himself after moving up to Senior competition two years ago.
“My goal was to win 10 state championships when I turned Senior,” Burgan said. “I had six at the time, and that’s a tall order to win four more state championships. I figured it would take at least five years, but I’m up to nine now and I’ve got one more chance to do it this year at the Four-Ball in October.”
Burgan’s feat is even more remarkable considering he missed most of 2025 while recovering from a medical procedure. He will head to Baltimore next week to play in the U.S. Senior Amateur, which will be his 15th USGA event.
“It’s been a great year,” Burgan said. “I couldn’t have drawn it up any better.”
A year made even better thanks to Zeb Patten and his wise counsel in sharing Lookout Mountain’s cheat codes.