One of Maysville’s most historic tournaments will be played this weekend.

The 83rd Chippeways match-play golf tournament will get started on Friday at Maysville County Club, after a shootout scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

For Teron Bay, it’ll be his first in charge of the tournament after taking over in the pro shop on April 1.

“I’ve been in the golf business for 20-plus years – I was a golf course superintendent for 20-plus years. I got out for a couple years, then worked here last year part-time, then took over this year,” said Bay. “I grew up in Bracken County and always knew about the Chippeways. I played in the Junior Chippeways a few times. I know it’s a big deal for this area. It’s been going on since 1935 and there’s a pretty good list of guys that have won it in past.”

The winner of the first tournament in 1935 was Harold Oldham of Richmond. The list includes the likes of Gay Brewer and Bobby Nichols, who finished first and second in the 1967 Masters, as well as St. Patrick graduate Mark Blakefield, who was named Kentucky’s Mr. Golf in 1999 and currently plays professionally.

The reigning champion, Jackson Frame, will be back in Maysville for the tournament, as well as several other former champions from the area. He topped Bill O’Mara, the 2006 champion, in 20 holes last year for his second title. Frame recently wrapped up his collegiate golf career at Northern Kentucky University.

“He’s been out a few times and is playing pretty well. He’s put a few under par rounds in just playing with friends and stuff. I think he’s getting into form,” said Bay. “Eric [Schumacher] is playing good this year, as well as Josh Webber and Drew Traxel and Joe Traxel. They’ve all been playing quite a bit, playing pretty good and it should make for an exciting championship flight.”

Frame fell to Schumacher, a five-time winner, in 19 holes in the the finals of the 2016 tournament and won the 2015 event.

Others former winners from the area also playing in the championship flight includes Troy Grooms, Drew Traxel, Joe Traxel, Robert Walton and O’Mara, while a handful of others from outside the area will also be competing in the championship flight.

“I think it’s good competition having some of the guys from out of town come in. The members here enjoy having other guys come in from other courses. We can showcase the good golfers we have here in Maysville,” said Bay. “I think Maysville is a place that takes pride in sports, whether it’s Royals football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer or St. Patrick sports. Maysville is a place that takes pride in sports. We have a lot of local guys that have won the Chippeways. It really gives members and really gives the city and county a lot of pride knowing their guys can hang with golfers from all around the state.”

Sixteen of the last 17 winners have come from Maysville. In 2011, Zack Butler of Lexington was the champion. The last winner from out of town before Butler was Danny Biddle of Paris. Biddle won the tournament in 1999 and 2000.

The first round will be played Friday and the second round will be played Saturday. The semifinals and finals are scheduled for Sunday, meaning competitors will spend a lot of time on the course during the three-day tournament, with the winners having to play at least 72 holes.

“The course is in amazing shape,” said Bay. “It’s in as good of shape as been in in four or five years.”

There will be six flights consisting of a total of 95 golfers, as well as a senior flight of six golfers, according to Bay. Pairings were scheduled to be completed Wednesday evening and made available on Thursday. Check Friday’s edition as they’ll be available in print and online.

Jackson Frame tees off during the championship match of the 2017 Chippeways golf tournament match against Bill O’Mara.
https://maysville-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Jackson-Frame_3.jpgJackson Frame tees off during the championship match of the 2017 Chippeways golf tournament match against Bill O’Mara. Jared MacDonald, The Ledger Independent
Jackson Frame looks to defend title

JARED MACDONALD

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