Brandt Snedeker likes new management for Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open (2025)

Mike Organ|Nashville Tennessean

Brandt Snedeker likes new management for Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open (1)

Brandt Snedeker likes new management for Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open (2)

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The Simmons Bank Open, previously known as the Nashville Golf Open, is under new management, has a new executive director and might end up with a new location.

The PGA Korn Ferry Tour tournament was scheduled for April 30-May 3but was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

When it returns in 2021, the tournament will be managed by the Tennessee Golf Foundation. The foundation's president,Whit Turnbow, will serve as the executive director, and the event either will return to Nashville Golf and Athletic Club or move to The Grove, a Greg Norman-designed course in College Grove.

The tournament also will remain closely aligned with PGA Tour pro Brandt Snedeker's foundation.

Snedeker has made it clear he hopes theSimmons Bank Open will help pave the way for a PGA Tour event to come to Middle Tennessee, and having the Tennessee Golf Foundation involved could be a step in that direction while also helping his foundation continue to raise funds for local charities.

“I’m really excited to have the Tennessee Golf Foundation involved with my hometown event," Snedeker said. "It's a perfect fit. Very rarely do you have two like-minded organizations with a purpose of impacting the local community in a positive way and doing it with integrity. It just so happens the vehiclewe are using to raise money and impact the local community is golf. It's a win-win for everyone involved."

Turnbow, a Shelbyville native and former Middle Tennessee State golf coach, and Snedeker have been friends since they playedyouth golf together.

"As one of the leaders in golf in the state of Tennessee we were honored that the Snedeker Foundation,the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour would look to us to help move the event in the directionthey see it going in the future," Turnbow said. "Brandt has a great vision for what he wants this event to be and certainly it's come a long way in the first five years. We look forward to elevating this event to a new level."

Officials from Nashville Golf and Athletic Club and The Grove have expressed interestin serving as host for the 2021 tournament.

"We hope to have something wrapped up in terms of the site in the next 60 days," Turnbow said.

The tournament will continue to be played in the spring, Turnbow said.

Tour Vision Promotions brought the tournament to Nashville Golf and Athletic Club in 2016 on what was then the Web.com Tour and managed the event thefirst four years.

Tour Vision Promotions CEO and president Patrick Nichol served as the tournament's executive director the first year, and Charlie Clarkson ran it the last three.

Tour Vision Promotions still manages the Knoxville Open and the Korn Ferry Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance in Newburgh, Indiana.

More: Brandt Snedeker: Nashville closer to getting PGA Tour event after sponsorship deal for Korn Ferry tournament

Ex-Vanderbilt star Jonathan Wynn writes book

Former Vanderbilt defensive end Jonathan Wynn, now with the Detroit Lions, has written a book titled "Summer Juice."

It's a fictional account about an introverted young boywho enjoys a memorablesummer that includes having toperseverethrough a number of hardships.

Wynn discovered he had a knack for writing during his senior year at Vanderbilt, where he majored ineducational studies and history.

Wynn played in 46 games and made 24 starts (2014-17) at Vanderbilt. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings, where he was on the practice squad.

He then signed with the Lions and played in one game last season.

The book was expected to be available for pre-orders Friday at Summer Juice.

MTSU's Chrissy Givens named coach at high school alma mater

Former Middle Tennessee State basketball standout Chrissy Givens announced her retirement from probasketballrecently and was named the girls basketball coach ather alma mater, Ouachita Parish High School inMonroe, Louisiana.

Givens, who played at MTSU from 2003-07, spentone season in the WNBA and then 12 years playing professionally in Europe. She was with a team in Romania last season.

Givens finished her MTSU career ranked inthe top 10 in fivecareer statisticalcategories, including steals (fourth), assists (fourth), field goals made (fifth), scoring (sixth) and free throws made (seventh).

She was inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in 2017, and her jersey No. 22 was retired at Ouachita.

Four from Lipscomb make A-Sun all-decade team

Lipscomb had four players named to the Atlantic Sun Conference all-decade (20111-20) men's basketball team.Lipscomb,Florida Gulf Coast and North Florida had the most players on the 20-member team.

The Bisons included former Franklin High star Garrison Mathews (2015-19), who was the conference's2018-19 player of the year, former Franklin Road Academy star Rob Marberry(2016-19), Eli Pepper (2015-19) and Josh Williams (2013-17).

Belmont'sIan Clark (2009-13) also made the team. Clark was the conference's defensive player of the year in 2011-12. Belmont left theA-Sun after that season.

TSU signs a kicker

Tennessee State's football team suffered a blow in Maywhen kicker Antonio Zita announced he was transferring to West Florida.

Zita, a sophomore from Lincoln County, made the All-Ohio Valley Conference second team last season.

The Tigers replaced Zita this week when they signedJimmy Lowery, a transfer kicker from Northern Illinois.

Lowery, a native ofFort Lauderdale, Florida, was a freshman last season but did not see game action.

As a senior at American Heritage High School, Lowery made 14 of 17 field goals with a long of 52 yards.

Hehas four years of eligibility remaining and can play immediately because he is transferring from an FBS to an FCS school.

OVC Football Media Day postponed

Oho Valley Conference Football Media Day, which was scheduled to take place virtually Monday, has been postponed to a date to be determined.

OVC commissioner Beth DeBauche will conduct a Zoom interview Monday with themedia.

The conference office will also release its preseason All-OVC team Monday as voted on by the coaches.

Austin Peay adds Clark to basketball staff

Rod Clark as joined the Austin Peay men's basketball staff as an assistant.

Clark spent last season at Illinois-Chicago. Prior to that Clark was an assistant at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, where he coached Austin Peay sophomore Carlos Paez.

Clark also coached MoKan Elitein the Nike EYBL circuit when Austin Peay newcomersMike Peake and Corbin Merritt were on the roster.

The Kansas City, Missouri, native played at Lindsey Wilson.

Longtime Belmont golf coach retires

After spending 19 years as Belmont's women's golf coach,Lissa BradfordretiredMonday.

Bradford, who played golf at Harpeth Hall and Alabama, guided Belmont to six conference teamchampionships (Atlantic Sun and OVC), and the Bruins had 12 individuals win league titles duringher tenure.

Bradford was a member of the NCAA Women's Golf Committee (2011-15) and also served as a rulesofficial at several NCAA regional and national championship events.

Bradford will continue to serve as senior director of junior golf for the Tennessee Golf Foundation.

Clarksville Academy hires former Centennial coach

Tyler Hickman is the new boys basketball coach at Clarksville Academy.

Hickman replaced Matt Wallace, who resigned in May.

Hickman, a Memphis native,previously served as the coach at Centennial and before that was an assistant at Battle Ground Academy.

Hickman led Centennial to a 16-12 record in his only season as the head coach last year.

Clarksville Academy posted an18-12 record last season and had back-to-back 20-win seasons in 2016-17 (22-8) and2017-18 (23-11).

Austin Peay great Tom Morgan dies

Tom Morgan, one of Austin Peay's greatest multi-sport stars, died Friday. He was 87.

Morgan, a standout basketball and baseball player,was in the first class inducted into the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978.

Morgan is Austin Peay's leader in careerrebounds(1,431), career rebound average average (13.3), single-season rebounds (561)and career field goal attempts (1,721).

Morgan was named All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference in basketball three times from 1955-1958.

Morgan's basketball jersey No. 52 was retired in 1999.

As a pitcherMorgan holds the Governors' records forsingle-game strikeouts (17) and single-season strikeouts per nine innings (10.57).

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

Brandt Snedeker likes new management for Korn Ferry Tour's Simmons Bank Open (2025)
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