Golfer Brantly dies at age 82
Renowned local amateur golfer Ed Brantly died Sunday at age 82, and visitation with the family is set for 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. until the 1 p.m. funeral service at Christ Episcopal Church on McCallie Avenue. Brantly, who was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame in 2002, won the Tennessee Amateur and the Southern Amateur championships in 1957 and added other State Am titles in 1961 and 1972. The Signal Mountain native and Memphis State University graduate won Tennessee Senior Amateurs in 1985, 1986 and 1989 and was the low amateur in the German Open in 1959 and 1960 while in the U.S. Army. He tied for 29th in the U.S. Open in 1961.
BASKETBALL
› Covenant College freshman Will Crumly was honored Monday as the USA South men’s basketball rookie of the week for the second time this season. He had 17 points, a career-high nine rebounds and two blocked shots in Saturday’s win over Huntingdon and is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds a game for the season.
SOFTBALL
› Three years after ending a stellar softball career at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Lauren Lawson is beginning her college career in the sport. She will sign papers today and begin practicing Wednesday with Carson-Newman’s NCAA Division II regional power with the hope of contributing this season as her longtime friend Katie Pritchett completes her career with the Eagles. Pritchett put Lawson in touch with CNU coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield. Lawson was a multiyear all-state pitcher, once honored as the classification’s state pitcher of the year, and also played infield for the Generals, and she had a number of college offers. She actually committed to Georgia College, according to former Heritage coach Steve Chattin, but before signing she decided to attend Dalton State and focus on academics. “It can safely be said that she was one of the top players to ever wear the navy and red, and some people in the community believe her contributions in the circle and at the plate make her the best player ever at Heritage,” Chattin said.