By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin star Tate Chumley has earned the Ohio Valley Conference’s Male Golfer of the Week accolade, the league office announced today.
This marks the second time in Chumley’s career that he has been voted as OVC Golfer of the Week as also won the honor on March 4, 2021. He is the second Skyhawk to achieve the OVC’s top weekly accolade this season as his brother Garrett Chumley was additionally crowned on Sept. 29. The Chumleys are the first set of brothers to be named OVC Golfer of the Week during the same season since Murray State’s Nick and Patrick Newcomb in 2012-13. They are also only the second brother tandem to win the award in UT Martin history – joining Tyler Shellnut (Oct. 10, 2012) and Gavin Shellnut (April 6, 2016).
Chumley accounted for his first collegiate victory at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational, hosted by North Alabama at Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club in Killen, Ala. He carded scores of 71-70-68 for a 209 (-7), winning the tournament by three strokes after coming into the final round two shots off the lead. His third-round score on Tuesday included six birdies as his 68 was two shots better than any of the 66 competitors in the field.
The senior from Murfreesboro, Tenn. topped the tournament in par-3 scoring (2.75, -3) while also ranking second in birdies (13), third in par-4 scoring (3.97, -1) and fifth in par-5 scoring (4.75, -3). For good measure, Chumley tacked on a team-best 35 pars – committing only six bogeys in the 54-hole event.
Chumley leads the Skyhawks with a 73.2 stroke average in 2021-22 as he has now strung together three consecutive top-20 tournament finishes. His medalist win on Tuesday was the sixth top-five and 11th top-10 finish of his storied collegiate career.
UT Martin is back in action on Oct. 25-26 when it travels across the state for the Battle at Black Creek event hosted by Chattanooga.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information