SEASIDE, Calif. – Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf coach Mark Guhne is stepping away from coaching for a weekend to take to the course. He tees off Thursday, Oct. 15, at the PGA Senior National Championship presented by Mercedes-Benz. The four-day, 72-hole event is played at Bayonet and Black Horse courses.
According to coach Guhne, player Guhne is excited at the opportunity to compete.
“I wrestled in three high school national championships, coached in three here at Chattanooga,” Guhne said. “But playing in one is different. I’m very grateful to David Blackburn and our staff and players for allowing me to be here.
“This is a very cool experience for me.”
He is part of an enormous 264-player field. He and fellow Chattanooga area resident and Council Fire Golf Club pro Richard Rebne qualified in one the 41 section Senior PGA Professional Championships.
“It’s similar to qualifying for any large event, the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur, what have you,” Guhne explained. “In some ways. It’s a win just getting here. Obviously, I am playing to win it; who knows when or if I’ll get another crack at it.
“But I am proud to be here. The pressure’s on, though; my guys are going to be following me. I’m going to hear about it when I get home, no matter what I do.”
There are strict eligibility rules for the field. The players come from teaching backgrounds – i.e. PGA Club Professionals, teaching professionals, college coaches – as well as those working in golf circles via the media, manufacturers, rules officials, course architects, etc.
Participants must be 50 years or older on the day the championship opens and there is a limit on professional tour play. There is a maximum of 10 pro tour appearances – major and mini tours – in the calendar year prior to the championship.
Rebne won his third straight Tennessee PGA Senior Professional Championship, shooting -9 in August at Brentwood Country Club outside Nashville. Guhne, who posted 1-under, is one of seven from the Tennessee section to qualify for the national championship.