By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin golf team finished off a wire-to-wire tournament victory today as the Skyhawks placed first in the 16-team Grover Page Classic held at Jackson Country Club.
Entering the day with a nine-stroke lead over the second-place Tennessee Tech in the standings, it wasn’t a cakewalk for UT Martin as the Skyhawks carded a 293 (+5) today – the ninth-best score in the field. However, UT Martin was able to still win the tournament by five strokes as the Skyhawks (852, -12) and Tennessee Tech (857, -7) were the only squads to shoot under par for the 54-hole event. As a team, UT Martin led the field in par-3 scoring (3.00, E) while ranking in the top-three in par-4 scoring (4.14, +21), par-5 scoring (4.62, -23) and birdies (59).
The victory marked the seventh time in the last 13 years that UT Martin had won the Grover Page Classic. It was also the second consecutive tournament victory for the Skyhawks and seventh in 11 total tournaments under second-year head coach Austin Swafford.
“After a rough start to the day, the team managed to get a few strokes back and play steady the rest of the way in,” Swafford said. “Today wasn’t our best overall but we know that those days are going to happen and I’m proud of the way they handled themselves on the back-nine.”
Overall, Bryson Morrell paced UT Martin in the tournament as the junior out of Knoxville, Tenn. posted a 209 (-7) to place third in the 92-man field. He led the event in par-3 scoring (2.67, -4) and also collected team-best tallies in par-5 scoring (4.33, -8) and birdies (15). The third-place effort is tied for the best finish of his collegiate career, ironically also occurring at the 2020 Grover Page Classic on March 9-10.
Also leading the way for the Skyhawks this week was freshman Jonathan Xoinis. The Chattanooga, Tenn. native earned his best collegiate finish after his 211 (-5) was tied with reigning Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Year Evan Davis from Belmont for fifth in the individual standings. Xoinis guided UT Martin in par-4 scoring (4.00, E) and pars (34) in the tournament.
“I’m super proud of Bryson and Jonathan for leading the way for us this week,” Swafford said. “We’ve had two weeks in a row where different people have stepped up and that’s what it takes to compete as a team so I’m really proud of everyone’s effort.”
Jacob Uehlein was the Skyhawks’ next highest finisher as he placed 14th with an overall tally of 215 (-1). Tate Chumley collected the 21st top-20 of his remarkable UT Martin career as his 217 (+1) was 18th in the field.
Cayden Chambers tied Xoinis for the most pars (34) on the team on his way to a 223 (+7). He was followed by Jackson Twerdahl (225, +9), Garrett Chumley (226, +10) and Ethan Ray (229, +13).
Today’s final round included a pair of 70’s as Xoinis and Chambers each accomplished that feat. Xoinis was locked in late – accumulating four of his team-high five birdies during a five-hole stretch on the back-nine. Competing as an individual, Chambers shot 3-under on the front-nine, including a pair of birdies and the first eagle of his bright collegiate career on a chip shot from 60 yards out on the par-4, 350-yard Hole No. 7.
Morrell’s 73 included four birdies while Uehlein (three birdies) and Tate Chumley (one birdie, 13 pars) completed the team scoring with 75’s. Garrett Chumley shot a 79 as the final member of the Skyhawks’ scoring lineup while Twerdahl (77, one birdie) and Ray (78, three birdies) represented UT Martin as individuals.
This week marked the start of a new tradition as the Grover Page Classic was played in the fall for the first time ever.
“We would like to extend a major thank you to Jackson Country Club and their entire personnel,” Swafford said. “The golf course was in excellent shape and the hospitality this week was superb.”
The Skyhawks are off next week before returning to the links on Oct. 18-19 for the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational, hosted by North Alabama at Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club in Killen, Ala.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information