The Back of the Range
Weekly interviews from prominent amateurs, coaches, and personalities from the game of golf!
Displaying 6 items of The Back of the Range with the tag "tennessee golf".
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Mike Sposa - 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion
October 2nd, 2026 | 1 hr 13 mins
USGA, amateur golf, callaway golf, mike sposa, pga tour, senior amateur golf, tennessee golf, walker cup
Mike Sposa’s U.S. Senior Amateur win is only part of the story. The real surprise is how a former pro who spent years grinding on tour found himself energized by amateur golf again, from the pressure of match play to the joy of competing without the weight of a paycheck. Ben and Mike unpack what changes—and what doesn’t—when a lifelong tournament golfer steps back into elite amateur competition. Mike shares what he’s learned about preparing faster, handling nerves differently, and using better self-talk under pressure. He also explains why the mental side matters more now than ever, and why the game can feel freer when it stops being a job.You’ll also hear about the whirlwind after Baltimore, when a championship celebration turned into a sprint to JFK and a next-morning arrival in Ireland for the Walker Cup at Lahinch. Mike revisits the 1991 Walker Cup, the star power of Phil Mickelson and David Duval, the wild atmosphere at Portmarnock, and what it means to be part of a Walker Cup society that lasts a lifetime.Ben and Mike also break down how junior golf has changed from both sides of the equation. Mike, now Senior Manager of Junior Development and Developmental Tours at Callaway, explains what he looks for in elite juniors, how technology like TrackMan and GC Quad is reshaping training, why speed has become nonnegotiable, and where today’s players still need more touch, creativity, and wind game. He also pulls back the curtain on what parents and players often misunderstand about equipment, brand relationships, and what companies actually look for beyond rankings and scorecards.Mike is the reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion and a former PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour player who won in Boise in 1998. He now leads Callaway’s junior development efforts, working at the intersection of equipment, player growth, and elite amateur golf.
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Brennan Webb - Visit Knoxville Collegiate Preview
September 4th, 2025 | 12 mins 8 secs
amateur golf, brennan webb, college golf, golf podcast, jackson herrington, lance simpson, tennessee golf, visit knoxville collegiate
Our guest on this episode of The Back of the Rangeis Coach Brennan Webb from Tennessee Men's Golf. He provided a preview of the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and the upcoming season for the Vols.
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Bryce Lewis - Tennessee Star Starts Pro Career
January 4th, 2025 | 22 mins 3 secs
bryce lewis, college golf, golf podcast, korn ferry tour, pga tour, q school, scott stallings, tennessee golf
Another great conversation with Tennessee standout Bryce Lewis. We spoke about his finish in college golf last season at #22 in PGA Tour U Standings as well as what lies ahead for him in 2025.
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Tyler Johnson - Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational Champion
July 21st, 2022 | 48 mins 5 secs
amateur golf, chattanooga choo choo invitational, college golf, elite amateur series, golf, tennessee golf, tyler johnson
My guest on this episode is the defending Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational Champion, Tyler Johnson. When the tournament is held at Council Fire Golf Club next week, you won't find anyone that has had more success there than Tyler. Last summer, he won the Tennessee State Amateur AND the Choo Choo on that course and set some records along the way.
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Jim Gallagher Jr. - Stories from the 1993 Ryder Cup
September 23rd, 2021 | 1 hr 21 mins
Golf Channel, Ryder Cup, Seve Ballesteros, USGA, jim gallagher, jr., junior golf, only one shot golf, pga tour, tennessee golf
My guest on this episode is five-time PGA Tour Winner, Jim Gallagher, Jr. We spoke about his start in the game and his victories on tour, as well as the incredible 1993 Ryder Cup win for the United States where Jim defeated Seve Ballesteros in the singles matches. A fantastic storyteller at Golf Channel that is also the host of his own podcast, Only One Shot Golf.
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Tim Jackson - The Amateur Legend from Tennessee
July 16th, 2020 | 1 hr 4 mins
USGA, amateur golf, brandt snedeker, danny green, tennessee golf, tga, tim jackson
Tim Jackson’s 30 year golf career is defined by global greens, national records, hometown loyalty and old fashioned fun. His career is highlighted by top prizes at the 1994 and 2001 U.S. Mid-Amateur, representing the U.S. as a member of the 1995 and 1999 U.S. Walker Cup Teams, and participating in the 1995 and 2002 Masters. He also won the North and South Amateur in 1998 and the 1995 Simon Bolivar World Cup in Caracas, Venezuela. Tim captured 13 Tennessee State Championships, won the Tennessee State Amateur in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2005 and Tennessee State Mid-Amateur in 1989, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2005, and 2010. Tim won the 2002 Tennessee State Open, the 2005 Tennessee State Match Play, and 2011 Tennessee Senior State Open. He also holds 7 City of Memphis Championships and was named Tennessee Player of the Year 9 times.