2026 NSH General’s Retreat

Mitchell Masters General’s Retreat as APT Nashville Battles the Heat at The Hermitage

The Amateur Players Tour Nashville returned to one of Middle Tennessee’s premier layouts on July 18 for the General’s Retreat at The Hermitage in Hermitage, Tennessee, where hot and humid conditions tested every aspect of players’ games. While the weather added another layer of difficulty, the General’s Retreat course rewarded steady ball striking and disciplined course management, producing several tightly contested divisions and memorable performances. The latest Hermitage, Tennessee golf tournament once again showcased why the APT Nashville Chapter continues to provide some of the best competitive amateur golf and golf tournaments in Tennessee. 

Matt Mitchell separated himself from the field in Division 1 with the only under-par round of the day, carding a 2-under 70 to claim the title by five shots over Jonathon Newman. Mitchell established momentum early with birdies on the opening hole, the fourth, fifth, and ninth before making the turn in control. Although a double bogey at the sixth briefly slowed his start, he quickly settled into a rhythm and continued to build his advantage with another birdie at the 11th. A pair of late bogeys on holes 13 and 14 allowed Newman a glimmer of hope, but Mitchell answered with a birdie at the par-5 15th before calmly closing with three consecutive pars. Newman stayed within striking distance for much of the day thanks to a birdie on the fourth and a clean front nine, but bogeys on 13, 17, and 18 prevented him from mounting a serious challenge. Mitchell’s composed performance was one of the strongest rounds of the season for the Amateur Players Tour Nashville. 

Division 2 featured one of the day’s closest races, with John Hipp edging Gregory Wyatt by a single stroke. Hipp played remarkably steady golf throughout the round, avoiding major mistakes and remaining at even par through 17 holes before a closing bogey still proved enough for a winning 74. His consistency forced the rest of the field to chase him all afternoon. Wyatt stayed within one shot despite making just one bogey through 17 holes, but a costly double bogey on the final hole ended his comeback attempt. Eric Soloway claimed third after enduring an eventful round that included double bogeys on the fifth and seventh, only to battle back with birdies on the eighth, 14th, and 18th. Frank Thomas II and Hayden Goodheart shared fourth place after both experienced roller-coaster rounds that featured stretches of excellent golf mixed with a handful of costly mistakes. Hipp’s patience ultimately prevailed in another competitive chapter of Tennessee amateur golf. 

Aaron Smith earned Division 3 honors after putting together a composed round that gradually wore down the field. Smith played steady golf through the opening nine before birdies and timely pars kept him in front during the closing stretch. Bogeys at the fourth, seventh, and 11th were offset by a key birdie on the 17th, and despite a double bogey on the 14th, he never surrendered control, finishing at 4-over to win by three shots. Don Weiss Jr. finished second after a dramatic scorecard that included birdies on the fourth, seventh, and 18th but was offset by several mid-round bogeys and a double bogey at the 13th. Will Houston captured third after recovering from a difficult opening two holes that left him three over almost immediately. Houston rallied with birdies at the ninth and 15th to remain in contention before closing at 8-over. Matt Love, John Perron, and Madison Murphy shared fourth after each experienced rounds filled with momentum swings, illustrating just how demanding General’s Retreat proved throughout the afternoon. 

Division 4 turned into a head-to-head battle between Lucas Wheeler and Brandon Jarrell. Wheeler built an early cushion despite opening with consecutive double bogeys, refusing to let the rough start define his round. A birdie at the eighth settled his nerves, another at the 11th erased more of the early damage, and he consistently limited mistakes over the closing holes to post 14-over. Jarrell answered with a steady front nine and briefly closed the gap after birdie on the eighth, but a triple bogey at the 10th and another on the 16th proved too much to overcome. Wheeler’s resilience after the opening holes was the defining storyline of the division. 

Division 5 produced another entertaining duel as Trentt Blackburn defeated Jason Prins by two shots. Blackburn’s card featured plenty of highs and lows, opening with a triple bogey before regrouping with solid play over the middle portion of the course. Birdies at the 12th and 15th highlighted an impressive recovery that kept him ahead throughout the back nine. Prins stayed within striking distance by avoiding any major collapse, but doubles on the opening hole, fifth, and 11th prevented him from drawing even despite a consistent finish. Blackburn’s ability to recover from adversity earned him the Division 5 championship. 

The Mid-Am Net competition belonged to John Hipp, who added another trophy to his day with an impressive 5-under net performance. Hipp’s steady play produced net birdies throughout the round, finishing comfortably ahead of Will Houston, who claimed runner-up at even par net after recovering from a slow start. 

The Senior Net division came down to the narrowest of margins as Jason Dale and Don Weiss Jr. both finished at 1-under net. Dale claimed the championship trophy by winning the scorecard playoff after posting an impressive 35 on the back nine, edging Weiss in the tiebreaker. While Dale took home the official victory and trophy, the two competitors shared the prize money after matching scores over 18 holes. Philip DuBose and Matt Love finished just two shots back in a tie for third at 1-over net, capping another competitive senior division at General’s Retreat. 

With another memorable stop in the books, the Amateur Players Tour Nashville Chapter now turns its attention to the next challenge on the schedule. Players will head to Old Fort Golf Club in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Saturday, August 8, where another strong field is expected to compete in one of Middle Tennessee’s premier golf tournaments in Tennessee. Whether chasing a season-long points race, a first APT victory, or simply another opportunity to test their game against the area’s best competitive amateur golf talent, competitors can expect another exciting chapter in the 2026 Amateur Players Tour Nashville season.