Even though Wes Roach left Knoxville a few years back to play for Duke University, childhood friend David Holmes knows the status of Roach’s
game at all times. And vice versa. “We keep in touch,” said the 20-year-old Holmes, a junior on the University of Tennessee men’s golf team. They didn’t need calls, texts or e-mails last weekend. They were in the final group of the Holston Hills Invitational. And it just so happened that it took two extra holes to settle matters between the two. Holmes’ 10-foot birdie on the par-4 second was the difference. And Roach, a former Webb standout and now sophomore at Duke, gave a congratulatory handshake to his friend of roughly 10 years. Holmes and Roach finished the two-day event at 9-under 135, five shots clear of Steve Golliher and six ahead of Tennessee golfer Chris Paisley.
Holmes, who played at West, birdied the 17th to pull even with Roach. Holmes then laid up on the par-5 18th, and Roach reached the green in two with a 3-wood.