Alli Troxell and Addisyn Newman decided to play hooky from their high school studies for a couple of days to defend their title in the 31st Tennessee Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Hopefully, their school administrators will be sympathetic when informed that the junior golfers were able to secure back-to-back championships in this event.
The road trip to Kingsport to compete proved to be a success for Troxell and Newman. They were able to navigate the soggy par-71 Cattails at MeadowView Golf Course, playing at 5,165 yards in a methodical fashion, winning by eight shots with a final score of 12-under-par after posting a final round 67 on Tuesday.
The duo improved on last year’s four-shot victory margin at Hermitage Golf Course, outdistancing Danna Raube and Karen Richards from Franklin as runner-up for the second year in a row in the Championship Division. They are the first repeat champions since Hanley Long and Jenna Burris completed that feat in 2017-18.
Newman and Troxell entered Wednesday’s final round with a three-shot advantage after combining for an 8-under 63 to open the tournament. They quickly extended their margin to six shots through six holes despite making only one birdie as Raube and Richards recorded three bogeys during that stretch.
While maintaining a five-stroke cushion at 9-under through 11 holes, Newman then delivered the knockout blow to essentially seal the title. The Hardin Valley Academy junior birdied the par-3 12th then followed up with an eagle at the 275-yard par-4 13th to again lead by six with five holes remaining before closing with all pars.
Troxell - a Harrison resident who is a sophomore at Ooltewah High School where she plays with her older sister, Charli – was unable to repeat her five-birdie performance from Tuesday but contributed some key pars on holes where Newman struggled.
Raube and Richards shot 1-over 72 on Wednesday to finish tied for second among the eight teams competing with a total of 4-under, joined by Loudon’s Emery Fisher and Parker Miller from Maryville who recorded a final round of even par 71.
Closing in fourth place were 2024 champions Beth Underhill of McMinnville and Kyle Crouch of Cookeville at 1-under, while McMinnville’s Michelle Dodson and Rachel Ellis of College Grove placed fifth at 5-over.
The Senior Division required a tiebreaker to determine a champion, with Karen Williams of Bean Station and partner Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi of Nashville prevailing in a scorecard playoff over Robin Banner of Knoxville and Susan Miller of Loudon.
The necessity of a playoff seemed unlikely minutes earlier as Switzer-Nadasdi and Williams trailed by five shots with seven holes remaining. However, they cruised home covering those final holes in 1-under while Banner and Miller suffered a pair of bogeys and a double during that same stretch as the sides finished tied at 1-under par.
Nashville’s Erica Chappell and Julie Carlton were one shot back in third at even par. Sandie Ballie of Crossville and Sue Schroer of Loudon tied for fourth at 4-over with the pairing of Bonnie Nestel and Sara Margraf of College Grove.
For complete results, go to TN Women's Four-Ball.