Highlights from CDGA Annual Meeting

Highlights from the Chattanooga District Golf Association's annual meeting:

• UTC assistant golf coach Mark Guhne, who will succeed outgoing coach Reed Sanderlin, who will retire after this season, said that the Golf Channel will devote an upcoming edition of College Central to the Mocs. TGC was in Chattanooga on Feb. 2 and shot 10 hours of tape, interviewing Sanderdlin, Guhne and several players. TGC plans on giving further coverage to the Mocs, placing a live mic on Sanderlin during the practice round of an upcoming tournament. Guhne also gave a progress report on the program. The most telling statistic of the several he mentioned: UTC fell from 197th in Division I in scoring average in 2003 to 56th in 2004. That was a drop of an average 12 strokes a round.

• The Chattanooga Classic Nationwide Tour event has set its dates for May 30-June 5 at Black Creek. This will be the third edition of the tournament.

• Rick Balthrop of Hampton Creek gave a progress report on that course's recent transformation. Going from a 9-hole executive type course, Hampton Creek is now a 7,200-yard, 18-hole monster. "It's been received well by our members and their guests," Balthrop said.

• Participation in Chattanooga's First Tee program grew 20 percent last year and further growth is expected this season. For more information, go to www.thefirstteechattanooga.org.

• USGA Public Links qualifying will be conducted at Brainerd. Bear Trace will be the site of TGA State Amateur Qualifying. Memphis Country Club will host this year's amateur.

• Council Fire will host USGA Mid-Amatuer qualifying August 9. The tournament will be played at The Honors Sept. 10-15. Black Creek will also host two days of stroke play qualifying.