TOP PHOTO: Former Cougar Cory Minton sizes up a shot late in the day of Sunday’s final round of the Bobby Heatherly Classic at the La Follette Country Club.

Tight scores highlighted the weekend’s annual season opener at the La Follette Country Club.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The fourth annual Bobby Heatherly Golf Classic teed off around 8am Saturday at the La Follette Country Club under a mostly sunny sky with temperatures already heating up. “This has become our traditional tournament season opener for the year, all the while honoring Bobby,” said Josh Vann, the club’s general manager. Related story is HERE from 2021.

The team of Josh Rogers and Bobby Davis won the two-person scramble that covered Saturday and Sunday. The pair shot a two day total of 124.

Former Marine Operation Enduring Freedom veterans Troy Bowhall of Clinton (left) and Cory Minton (right) of La Follette were among those in the weekend’s season opening tournament.

Troy Bowhall, originally from New York, met Cory Minton from La Follette when they served in the U.S. Marine Corp. The men fought in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Minton has played in all four of the Bobby Heatherly Classics. This was the first for Bowhall.

Minton didn’t really take up golf until well after high school. Although he did have the chance to learn from Bobby Heatherly. “My first golf lesson was with Bobby when I was a student at La Follette Middle School in 2000. Though I didn’t make the team that year, Bobby certainly made an impression on me,” said Minton.

The classic is named in honor of Heatherly, the man who invested 36 years on the hill that’s home to the nine-hole course. “All the years he worked here and all the hours and self-sacrifice he made, this is the least we can do,” said Vann.

Country Club memberships are available, and weekend rate green fees are $35 for 18 holes and $20 for nine. Vann says you can sign up for a membership by calling 423.562.9130 or by stopping by the pro shop.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/23/2022-6AM)

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