Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
"I had to think more like a coach” - Blue Raider Assistant Denman captures 2024 Tennessee Amateur
6/24/2024 3:15:00 PM | Men's Golf
The former Blue Raider letterman used his coaching background to help him stay focused in the four-round tournament.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Walking off the final green at Tennessee National Golf Club, Payne Denman couldn't help but be frustrated.
The Middle Tennessee Men's Golf Assistant Coach had done more than fine in the first round of the 2024 Tennessee Amateur, shooting a two-under par 70 in his first 18 holes, setting himself in position to not only make the cut, but contend for the title heading into the next three rounds. But when you four-putt your last hole of the day, that tends to linger with you as you walk off the course.
But much had changed for Denman in the ten years in between competing in the Tennessee Amateur. Not only had he gone pro briefly, and of course earned back his amateur status later, but he'd also become a coach to so many golfers that were the same way he was when he led the Blue Raiders on the course from 2012-15. And all he had to do was the lean on that coaching experience to help himself for the rest of the tournament.
"I had to think more like a coach and understand that this is four rounds," Deman said. "I made a pretty bad mistake for me on the last hole. But over the course of four days, it's going to happen. You just have to realize that you've got to move on."
Move on, Denman did, shooting 16-under par the rest of the tournament, including an eight-under par card in the third round, to roar past the stacked field to win the 2024 Tennessee Amateur by four shots at 270 (-18). It was Denman's first solo Tennessee Golf Association Title.
"It was pretty surreal," Denman said of lifting up the trophy at the 109th edition of the tournament. "I believed that it was possible, I believed that my game was good enough to achieve that. But believing that and actually seeing it happen are two different things."
Denman had come close to that title during his days playing for the Blue Raiders, finishing fourth in 2013. And he thought he had a good chance this year, with Tennessee National Golf Club's course being a good fit to his game, requiring myriad approach shots from 150 yards in, a particular strength for Denman.
Driving well to set up the approaches and making some putts after didn't hurt either, of course. Denman also credits his ability to stay aggressive, knowing that birdies were going to keep him atop the leaderboard, not pars, in the crowded leaderboard that was littered in red numbers all week. But seeing that final putt drop put it all in perspective for Denman, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur later this summer at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, home of the 2016 Ryder Cup.
"To say I'm excited would be an understatement," said Deman, who competed in last year's US Amateur after making it through the grueling qualifying circuit, one Denman now doesn't have to go through again this year. "It's always a goal, for any amateur golfer, to make it there. You get treated like you're at the U.S. Open."
The assistant coach was also excited to see so many Blue Raiders playing well in the Tennessee Amateur Field alongside him. Sheldon McKnight, a rising redshirt sophomore, finished fifth overall with a score of 278 (-10). Incoming freshman Thad Whitfield also posted a top 10 with a score of 282 (-6). His fellow classmate Owen Queener also played well, making the cut and finishing tied for 31st. All of which were finishes that had Denman excited for the Blue Raiders' future.
"For those guys, especially as young as they are (to finish that high), it's just a statement to what we're trying to do with our program," Denman said. "I feel like we're on the rise and just going to continue to get better."
His boss, MTSU Head Men's Golf Coach Mark McEntire, said the same about Denman's performance.
"I am so happy for Payne!" McEntire said. "He is such a good player, coach and better person! It continues to give us credibility with recruits when you have the best player in Tennessee on our staff."
Players Mentioned
