Jackson and Fly Share Tennessee Four-Ball Lead
The veteran duo finished the opening round at 9-under 62 alongside Craig McElhaney and John Thomas.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Golf
Tim Jackson and Buzz Fly joined Craig McElhaney and John Thomas in a first-round tie at the Tennessee Super Senior Four-Ball Championship. The two teams finished the opening stroke-play qualifying round at Bear Trace at Tims Ford with matching scores of 9-under 62.
Why it matters
The opening performance sets the tone for the competition as teams vie for spots in the upcoming match-play bracket. Advancing to the final stages of the championship requires consistency through the remainder of the qualifying rounds.
Tim Jackson and Buzz Fly lead the field with a 9-under 62, a benchmark matched by Craig McElhaney and John Thomas. The field is tightly packed with three teams currently tied for third at 6-under 65 and two teams tied for sixth at 5-under 66.
The players
Tim Jackson
He is a highly decorated golfer who holds 27 Tennessee Golf Association titles.
Buzz Fly
He is a competitive golfer with 11 Tennessee Golf Association victories and a history of six consecutive State Super Senior Amateur wins.
Craig McElhaney
He is a participant in the tournament who finished the opening round tied for the lead.
John Thomas
He is a participant in the tournament who finished the opening round tied for the lead.
The details
The leaders secured their position through a combination of consistent scoring, including five front-nine birdies from Fly and two back-nine birdies from Jackson. The tournament features a field with a combined 120 Tennessee Golf Association victories.
Timeline
The opening round of stroke-play qualifying took place on October 13, 2026.
The final qualifying round is scheduled for October 14, 2026.
The semifinal matches are scheduled for October 15, 2026.
The championship final is scheduled for October 16, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This opening round establishes the initial hierarchy for the Tennessee Super Senior Four-Ball Championship as players aim to secure one of the four semifinal spots. Success in this stage is critical for participants looking to solidify their standing in the current state golf season.
The top four teams from the qualifying rounds will advance to compete in the semifinal matches on Wednesday. Failure to maintain these scores during the next round could lead to elimination from the championship bracket entirely.
The takeaway
Maintaining momentum after an early lead is essential for securing a top-four seed in match-play tournaments. Consistency across both the front and back nines often differentiates the top contenders in stroke-play qualifying rounds.
What happens next
The final qualifying round is scheduled for October 14, 2026, followed by semifinal matches on October 15 and the championship final on October 16.
Further reading
For more news and scores from across the state, visit Tennessee Golf.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chattanoogan.
