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CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs men's and women's golfers have the last Saturday in April circled on the calendar. That's the date to host Jack McKenna Day at the Player Development Complex in concert with the Tennessee Golf Foundation and First Tee of Chattanooga.
 
Jack McKenna Junior Golf Day is a free golf clinic for all youth in the area, ages 6-17. The young golfers were grouped by age and ability. From there, they enjoyed a morning of golf instruction, activities and games with the Mocs.
 
The weather was as immaculate as the exceptional facility work, provided on a daily basis by superintendent Chip Ward and assistant Timothy Lawson. First Tee program director Tim Haralson and Tennessee Golf Foundation Regional Director Lamar Mills laid out the two-hour session of instruction that included 120 youth area youth.  That was followed by a talk by UTC coaches – Colette Murray & Blaine Woodruff and then a hearty lunch.
 
"It was great to have so many children out here using our facilities," Murray shared. "We really couldn't ask for a better day to host this. There's such a rich history with golf in Chattanooga, especially with Jack McKenna and his family. I'm glad we can continue this great tradition for juniors in Chattanooga and that our teams can be a part of it."
 
The event began in 2012 in honor of its namesake. Jack McKenna was renowned in the Chattanooga area for supporting junior golf and instructing the next generation of Scenic City golfers over five decades at Valleybrook Golf Course and later at the Academy of Golf which he owned and operated in Hixson.
 
His contributions to the Mocs came in the form of sons Tommy and David, who was affectionately known as Daisy. The duo were members of the men's golf program in its move to the Southern Conference and the DI level in the late 70s. Daisy later served as a volunteer assistant to former Coach Mark Guhne for more than a decade prior to his death in 2021.
 
"This was a really cool turnout," Woodruff added after his first McKenna Day. "It was all different ages, boys and girls, it was just great to see our teams being able to interact with them and instruct them. You could hear the cheers so there's obviously relationships that have developed between our student-athletes and the juniors.
 
"I know it means a lot to our guys. We get so busy in the midst of our season doing what we do that sometimes, it gets hard to take time, give back and gain some perspective. Things like this do exactly that. We look forward to next year."
 
Both programs also look forward to continuing postseason play. The women are represented at the NCAA Raleigh Regionals by senior Dorota Zalewska. She opens play at N.C. State's Lonnie Poole Golf Club, site of the men's October win at the Wolfpack Invitational, on May 8 with 18 holes per day finishing Wednesday, May 10. She is looking to claim the individual berth to the NCAA Championships later in the month.
 
The men learn their fate Wednesday. The NCAA Men's Golf Selection Show is at 1 p.m., on the Golf Channel. Possible locations from east to west: Salem, S.C.; Auburn, Ala.; Bath, Mich.; Norman, Okla.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Morgan Hill, Calif. The Mocs rank in the top 50 in the country and well within the "bubble" area for inclusion.
 
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