Schooldays golf champions have different motivations for repeating

Andrew Preston

The Tennessean

Ashley Gilliam is the defending Schooldays girls champion.

Bryce Lewis and Ashley Gilliam are ready to defend their respective titles at the 93rd annual Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament, but for different reasons.

“I think it’s good to support local tournaments," said Lewis, a Hendersonville senior and Middle Tennessee State commitment who won the boys championship in 2016. "I want to obviously defend my title, but also I want to help grow the tournament in general."

The tournament tees off Tuesday at McCabe Golf Course in Nashville.

The tournament is for boys and girls ages 12-17. After the first round of medal play, the low 16 boys and eight girls advance into match play for the final two days of the tournament.

Gilliam is more internally focused. Her mother, Jennifer Gilliam, won the tournament three consecutive years (1989-1991) and has set the family standard.

“I’m really excited, I view this tournament as a challenge," said Gilliam, a Mississippi State commitment. "I really want to break my mom’s record."

With one championship already under her belt, Gilliam, who will be entering her junior year at Coffee County, has three years of eligibility remaining to enter her name in the record books.

Lewis has already bested his father when it comes to family ties in the state’s longest-running continuous golf tournament.

Bryce Lewis of Hendersonville watches a tee shot during the championship round of the Schooldays Golf Tournament at McCabe Golf Course.

Bryce’s father, Trey, participated each of the six years he was eligible, reaching the semifinals in 1985 before finishing as runner-up in 1986.

“That’s one thing I’ve got on him so far. He never won the Schooldays, he only finished runner-up,” Lewis said.

Lewis is looking forward to playing at McCabe, where he believes golfers can score low.

“McCabe is very scoreable," Lewis said. "It gives everyone a shot. Everyone in the field has a chance to compete well. You don’t have to be anybody special to win the tournament."

While Gilliam is the defending champion, she is not taking anything for granted.

“I need to qualify first. I have to focus on the present and not get ahead of myself,” she said.