If “a bad day of golf beats a good day of work,” as the saying goes, then how much better than a day at the office is a fabulous day on the greens?
According to the participants in last week’s Chattanooga Bar Association Golf Tournament, held Friday at Nob North Golf Club in Cohutta, Georgia, exceedingly better.
“This was the most fun we’ve ever had in a scramble tournament,” says Robert Divine, an attorney with Baker Donelson, which placed first in the event. “Nob North sets up lots of strategic risk-reward decisions that are perfect for a scramble, and their real-time scoring app made us all feel more connected to the fierce team competition, which went down to the last putt.”
“We particularly liked the change of venue to a course few of us get to play on a regular basis,” adds Hal North, an attorney with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, which placed third. “The weather was perfect, and it was great to get out of the office for the afternoon.”
Divine and North both add that the event went smoothly, despite the CBA implementing careful limitations due to COVD-19. “[CBA Executive Director] Lynda Hood did her typically outstanding job setting up a great tournament,” North says.
Afterward, Hood congratulated the winning team from Baker Donelson, which consisted of Divine, Jim Levine, Evan Sharber and Austin Starkey.
The tournament ended with a three-way scorecard playoff for second and third place. After the dust settled, Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams was declared the runner-up, with Craig Allen, Dean Clements, Ben Reese and Joe White celebrating their success.
Joining North in placing third for Chambliss were Jeff Granillo, Jeffrey Maddux and McKeehanan Rue.
After the tournament, North jokingly quipped he’d requested a third-party investigation into the scorecard finish. “I’m convinced my team was pencil-whipped. Accordingly, I have asked District Attorney Neal Pinkston and the TBI to investigate the scoring for the two teams that finished ahead of us. It appears to me they might not have played all 18 holes.
“Regardless, we look forward to rightfully claiming our trophy next year!”
Other awards included:
Straightest Drive – Andrew Childress of the Public Defenders team
Longest Drive – Tom Smith of Cavett, Abbott & Weiss
Closest to pin – Divine; Starkey; Scott McDearman of Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison
Bill Colvin won the McLemore Golf Prize.
Sponsors included Pinnacle Financial Partners, Aetna, COS (Chattanooga Office Supply), FindLaw, Focus Treatment Centers, the Hamilton County Herald and Thomson Reuters.
After the tournament, Hood thanked the sponsors, golf pro Eric Hester of Nob North Golf Club and drink cart drivers Chloe Kennedy and Kelsey Keef of Luther Anderson. Hood also expressed the CBA’s gratitude to all the participants and contributors.
“Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who played in and supported the tournament. We had a blast.”