Main Bracket - Purple Bracket - Pink Bracket - Copper Bracket - Qualifying Leaderboard

Just three weeks after the Golden Tee World Championship in Las Vegas, where Clint Grover claimed the arcade title, the competitive spirit rolled right into Nashville for the 2025 Music City Madness Open. A total of 169 players qualified for the showdown in Tennessee, including more than 20 first-time tournament participants with one of those newcomers making an impressive run to finish second in the Copper Bracket. The event delivered everything from undefeated performances a comeback story, proving once again why Golden Tee’s tournaments remain a thrilling no matter the skill levels!

Check out all of the photos from the Nashville Motor City Madness here

The leaderboard was once again stacked with talent, but two players stood head of the rest in qualifying. Missouri’s Evan Gossett and Texas’ Paul Luna shared the top spot, each carding an incredible -147 over five courses and Gossett beating Luna by only 9,643 Great Shot Points. Gossett’s consistency edged him into first thanks to a a huge 188,840 Great Shot Points, the highest of the event. Luna matched the total score with standout rounds of -30 at Basin Lake and -32 at Palmetto Coast, showing he can go low on any course he tees off on.

Georgia’s Adam Harris rounded out the podium at -142, highlighted by a -31 on Palmetto Coast, while Texas’ Burak Temel and Virginia’s Kevin O’Connor followed close behind at -141 and -140, respectively. O’Connor’s -31 at Pine Coast tied Gossett & Luna for the course’s best score. Veterans like Andy Haas (OH) and Mark Gomez (WI) stayed in striking distance, proving once again that experience World Champs are always in the running.

The Main bracket kicked off as top contenders quickly separated themselves from the pack. Evan Gossett made a statement right out of the gate, firing back-to-back -30s on Palmetto Coast to advance past Chris Ivens and then matching Derrick Trumbly in a tied -30 round before losing to Trumbly in overtime. 

Paul Luna delivered his trademark consistency, opening with a -28 on Basin Lake and rolling past Eddie Godfrey, Mark Gomez, and Adam Harris with steady rounds. Burak Temel emerged as another major threat after a short hiatus from the GT community. Burak showed that his muscle memory for the game is like riding a bike.

As the field narrowed, Burak and Luna collided in a tense Bear Lodge match, with Temel edging him -27 to -26 to secure a spot in the main bracket final. There, Temel put on a show, shooting a -31 on Pine Coast to beat Andy Haas by one stroke and punch his ticket for his first National Golden Tee Tour Main bracket win! Temel is always a threat but even more so now with a huge Nashville win!

Craig Sander dominated the Purple Bracket from start to finish, going undefeated on his way to the title matach. Showcasing steady, high-level play, his composure and consistency carried him through the bracket without a single loss, culminating in a decisive -26 to -20 victory over Scott Nussmeyer in the final to claim the championship of the Purple Bracket.

Craig Sanders (Purple 1st), Burak Temel (Gold 1st) and Russ Layton (Pink 1st)

Russ Layton put together an incredible comeback in the Pink Bracket, battling through the losers bracket after an early setback to claim the title. Facing elimination nearly every round, Layton stayed sharp with consistency, taking out tough opponents like Matt Miller, John Benben, and Rob Cruzen. This paid off in the finals against Michael Schaffner, where he delivered back-to-back wins. Layton first forced the reset with a clutch -27 to -24 victory on Sahara Dunes, then sealed the championship in the winner-take-all game on Lexington Stables with another -27, completing a run that turned an early loss into a sweep for the Pink Bracket Win.

Donnie Miller and Tim Moreini (Copper Bracket Finalists)

The Copper Bracket final featured an exciting showdown between first-time tournament player Tim Moreino and Donnie Miller. After losing to Moreino in the King of the Hill match, Miller fought his way back through the losers bracket for a second chance at the title. Despite Moreino’s stronger start, the pressure of his first tournament seemed to affect his play, and he ultimately dropped two matches to Miller. In the end, Donnie Miller claimed the Copper Bracket championship with a comeback victory.

To wrap up, the 2025 Music City Madness Open was an incredible showcase of skill, determination, and community spirit that truly captured the excitement of Golden Tee competition. A huge thank you goes out to the Power Events team—Steve Sobel, Paige Gossett, and Russ Layton—for their dedication and hard work in making this event run so smoothly. We also want to express our gratitude to the crew at TNT’s Bar and Grille for once again hosting a fantastic tournament atmosphere that players and fans alike could enjoy. Special thanks to the players who helped set up the machines, ensuring everything was ready for top-level competition. Our appreciation extends to the Incredible Technologies team for providing a seamless live stream experience, and to Richard King for capturing the event’s best moments through his photography. Together, everyone involved helped make this tournament a memorable success and a celebration of the Golden Tee community.