MARTIN, Tenn. – Jerry Carpenter the head golf coach at The University of Tennessee at Martin talked to incoming freshman golfer Ben Reeves from Knoxville this past Thursday morning. Carpenter encouraged Reeves to do his best in the 54-hole stroke play competition on the par-72 Richland Country Club in Nashville.
Carpenter told Reeves not to let up and stay focused. The coach had this feeling that Reeves would win the American Junior Golf Association tournament in a sudden-death playoff. Carpenter even predicted who Reeves would beat in the playoff.
That afternoon, Carpenter’s prediction played out. Much like 1987, when Larry Mize hit a 45-yard pitch shot to birdie the second hole and defeat Greg Norman, the calm, cool and collective Reeves birdied the first playoff hole, while Ben Wolcott of Burns sank a par putt.
Reeves was 5-under-par in the final round, while Wolcott, who has committed to Ole Miss, was four-under-par.
Reeves will wrap up his AJGA career this weekend when he competes in the Hank Haney AGJA Junior Open in Hilton Head, SC.