2026 NSH Old Fort

Weather Shortens Old Fort Event as APT Nashville Battles Through Storms 

The Amateur Players Tour Nashville made its way to Old Fort Golf Course in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on August 8 for another stop on the 2026 schedule, but what began as a hot and humid day of competitive amateur golf quickly turned into a battle against Mother Nature. Thunderstorms, lightning and flooding eventually forced the premature conclusion of Divisions 3, 4 and 5, with players in those divisions unable to complete a full round. Divisions 1 and 2, however, finished all 18 holes and produced strong championship performances, while the shortened competitions still delivered plenty of drama. It was another memorable chapter for the APT Nashville Chapter and one of the more unusual golf tournaments in Tennessee this season. 

Division 1 

Justin Lee put together one of the day’s strongest performances, overcoming a crowded leaderboard to capture the Division 1 championship at 4-under. Lee wasted little time establishing himself, opening with back-to-back birdies before adding another at the seventh. He then caught fire around the turn, making birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth to make the turn at an impressive 5-under. 

The back nine brought a little more adversity. Lee remained steady through the first several holes before a double bogey on the 16th briefly opened the door for the field. Rather than allowing the mistake to derail his round, he answered with a birdie on 17 and closed with a par to secure the victory. 

Matt Mitchell finished second at 3-under after an exceptionally steady round. Mitchell birdied the fourth, sixth and 17th and avoided a single bogey over 18 holes, but Lee’s aggressive opening stretch ultimately created the difference. Daniel Hickson, JP Brown and Luke Maples shared third at 2-under. 

Maples produced one of the day’s more entertaining scorecards, mixing a series of birdies with several bogeys as he remained within reach throughout the afternoon. Brown also stayed in contention with a steady collection of birdies, while Hickson’s 2-under round included a two-shot gain on the second and birdies on the fifth and sixth. In the end, Lee’s fast start and ability to recover from his late mistake proved enough to claim one of the day’s most impressive golf tournament results. 

Division 2 

Chris Bernosky captured Division 2 at 3-over, holding off Max Evans by two shots. Bernosky’s round was built around timely birdies and a strong finish. After opening with three steady holes, he picked up a birdie on the fourth and another on the sixth to move into the red. 

The back nine became a different test. Bernosky gave back shots on the 10th, 11th and 12th, allowing the field to close the gap, but he refused to compound the mistakes. Six consecutive pars to finish the round kept the door firmly closed and gave him the championship. 

Max Evans finished runner-up at 5-over after playing remarkably consistent golf. Evans made five bogeys but avoided any big numbers, keeping himself within striking distance throughout the day. Michael Osborne and Christopher Randolph tied for third at 6-over. Osborne produced a steady round with birdies on the 12th and 17th, while Randolph’s scorecard included a birdie on 11 but a costly double bogey on 14. 

Will Norman and Vic Wolaver shared fifth at 7-over. Both endured difficult stretches but managed enough birdies and recovery shots to stay close to the podium. Bernosky’s ability to settle down over the closing holes ultimately separated him from a field that remained competitive throughout the afternoon. 

Division 3 

By the time Division 3 reached the course, the weather had become an increasingly important part of the competition. Play was eventually halted after 14 holes, leaving Will Houston and Jon Sylvester tied at 6-over when the course became unsafe. 

Sylvester ultimately claimed the Division 3 trophy after winning the scorecard playoff, but because the division was shortened by the weather, Sylvester and Houston split the prize money. 

Neither player had an easy path to the finish. Sylvester opened with a bogey and then dropped shots on the third and fourth before finding momentum with a birdie on the sixth. After settling into a stretch of steady play, he gave shots back on 10 and 11 but remained level with Houston when play was called. 

Houston’s round was steadier for much of the day, but a double bogey on the ninth and a bogey on the 12th brought him back to the same 6-over total as Sylvester. The two players were never given the opportunity to settle the championship on the course, leaving the scorecard playoff to determine the trophy. 

Philip DuBose and Bryan Harwell tied for third at 7-over. DuBose briefly gained ground with a birdie on the 10th, only to suffer a triple bogey on the 11th. Harwell also battled through an up-and-down round, including a double bogey on the sixth and another on the 10th before answering with a birdie on 12. 

The Division 3 result was a fitting illustration of how quickly the day had changed. What had started as a normal Murfreesboro, Tennessee golf tournament had become a race against the weather, with the final standings ultimately determined before the players could finish the course. 

Division 4 

Division 4 was shortened even further, with the field completing only nine holes before thunderstorms, lightning and flooding brought play to an end. 

Reid Kieswetter emerged as the champion at 3-over, one shot ahead of Brandon Jarrell. Kieswetter opened in impressive fashion with a birdie on the first hole, but consecutive bogeys on the fourth and fifth erased that early advantage. He recovered by playing the final four holes in 1-over and held on for the win. 

Jarrell stayed within one shot throughout the abbreviated competition, finishing at 4-over. A bogey on the second and another on the fifth and sixth prevented him from catching Kieswetter, but his steady play kept the division competitive until the weather ended the day. 

David Smith, Thomas Jones II and Joe Smolira shared third at 5-over. Smith’s round was particularly impressive considering his start: a triple bogey on the opening hole could have ended his chances immediately, but he responded by playing the remaining eight holes in just 2-over and added a birdie on the ninth. Jones and Smolira also remained within striking distance, but with only nine holes completed, there was simply no opportunity for another chapter to develop. 

Division 5 

John Marshall claimed the Division 5 championship after the weather stopped play following 13 holes. Marshall finished at 11-over, two shots ahead of Michelle Martino and Peter Ko. 

Marshall’s round was a steady grind. After an opening sequence that included a double bogey on the fourth, he settled into a more controlled rhythm and avoided the kind of large numbers that allowed the chasing players to make up ground. He reached the weather stoppage at 11-over with the lead intact. 

Martino and Ko both battled through difficult stretches. Martino suffered triple bogeys on the fifth, sixth and ninth, but she continued fighting and produced a remarkable two-shot gain on the 10th before finishing the final three holes without another major setback. 

Ko also endured a difficult middle portion, including double bogeys on the fifth and sixth and a triple bogey on the 10th. He answered with a birdie on the 11th, however, keeping himself within two shots of Marshall when play was finally called. 

With lightning in the area and flooding creating unsafe course conditions, there was no opportunity for the field to complete the remaining five holes. Marshall’s steady play before the stoppage was enough to earn the Division 5 title. 

Mid-Am Net 

Nathan Frazier took the Mid-Am Net title with a 3-under score through 10 holes. Frazier created separation with an impressive two-shot gain on the seventh and held the lead when the weather brought the competition to an early close. 

Will Houston, David Smith and Thomas Jones II shared second at 1-under, each finishing two shots behind Frazier in the shortened competition. 

Senior Net 

The Senior Net competition produced another close finish, with John Marshall and Joe Smolira both posting 5-under through nine holes. Marshall earned the championship trophy via the applicable tiebreaker, while the two players split the prize money because of the weather-shortened event. 

Christopher Randolph finished third at 3-under, with Ronnie Bennett and Jimmy Murphy sharing fourth at 2-under.