Chattanooga Classic presented by Black Creek

Jim Gallagher Jr., arguably the best golfer in University of Tennessee golf team history, has received an exemption to participate in the 2005 Chattanooga Classic.

Gallagher becomes the second player to receive a sponsor's exemption. Kip Henly, the Big Break II winner, was the first. The Chattanooga Classic has two more sponsor's exemptions to give.

"I really like Chattanooga, so I'm happy that I have received an exemption," Gallagher said. "I always enjoyed playing there and I had some success there."

His greatest achievement in Chattanooga didn't come on the golf course though. It was during the 1988 Chattanooga Classic, at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, the he proposed to his wife Cissye, a former LPGA player and 10-time Mississippi women's amateur champion.

"SHe was there visiting me in the hotel when the lights went out in the whole place," Gallagher said. "I took that as a sign and I asked her to marry me."

The couple was married shortly thereafter.

Gallagher is a five-time champion on the regular PGA Tour, but has not played fulltime since 2003 when he accepted a position as an analyst with USA Network.

From 1989 through 1995, he was no worse than 51st on the money list, twice making the top 10. His best year was a fourth-place finish on the money list in 1993 when he won the Anheuser Busch Classic and the Tour Championship.

Gallagher's family was also recognized in 1994 as the National Golf Family of the Year.His dad, Jim, is a retired PGA professional in Indiana, his sister Jackie Gallagher-Smith plays on the LPGA TOur and his brother Jeff has played on the PGA and Nationwide tours.

"Jim has played in the Chattanooga Classic several times and had some good finishes," said executive director Sam Woolwine. "He's a former Ryder Cup and President's Cup player who also is recognizable as a television analyst. I think our steering committee made a good choice."