CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Hank Miles Junior City Am was held at Swan Lake Golf Course in Clarksville on Wednesday and Thursday. The two-day tournament was highlighted by some of the best golfers in the Clarksville area ages 6 through 18 and culminated in Braeden Parker and Lily Hyams winning the 18-hole divisions.
The Clarksville Junior City Am has been around for decades. The tournament was named in memory of Hank Miles in 1999, when he tragically died in a car accident. Miles played golf at Northeast High School, along with working at Swan Lake.
Diana Samuels, who runs the event, said it’s important to her to keep this tradition alive that meant so much to Miles.
“Hank was my next-door neighbor, he was like a big brother to me,” Samuels told Clarksville Now. “He was an all-around great guy. Being able to come out and do this tournament that means a lot to my family, and to keep his memory alive, it means the world.”
The tournament is split into eight divisions, having three-, six-, nine- and 18-hole divisions for both boys and girls. The divisions are based on skill level, not age, and slightly alter the Tee-Boxes for the golfers. For the 18 hole girls division, Lily Hyams won with a score of 162 through 36 holes. She said winning this tournament is all about being a role model for the younger golfers.
“I had a good first round, and just wanted to be consistent, take it shot by shot,” said Hyams. “Winning it means I can look down on all the littles and inspire them to try to win it to. I just love the community here.”
For the boys 18-hole division, Braeden Parker came out on top with a score of 155. Parker has played in this tournament since he was young.
“I had some rough patches, but I just had to grind it out all day, and in the end, it worked out,” Parker said. “I’ve been playing this tournament since I could swing a golf club. The Samuels family are the ones that got me into golf, and they’re a big part of why I’m here.”
After the tournament, there was an awards ceremony for all divisions of golfers.
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