By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the first time ever, the Ohio Valley Conference head golf coaches tabbed the University of Tennessee at Martin atop the predicted order of finish as the league unveiled its preseason rankings today.
The Skyhawks received four of the nine first-place votes, earning 60 points to surpass their highest-ever preseason ranking (eclipsing second-place predictions in both 2018 and 2020). Trailing UT Martin in the poll was Tennessee Tech (three first-place votes, 54 points), Belmont (two first-place votes, 51 points), Morehead State (45 points), SIUE (37 points), Austin Peay (29 points), Murray State (25 points), Tennessee State (14 points) and Eastern Illinois (nine points).
The defending OVC champion Skyhawks experienced immense success during the 2021 fall campaign, winning three of their five fall tournaments. UT Martin came out on top of the Derek Dolenc Invitational (Sept. 27-28), the Grover Page Classic (Oct. 4-5) and the Battle at Black Creek (Oct. 25-26). The Skyhawks also produced a pair of tournament medalists in Garrett Chumley (8-under par at the previously mentioned SIUE Derek Dolenc Invitational) and Tate Chumley (7-under par at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational on Oct. 18-19).
Individually, UT Martin boasted four golfers in the top-25 in the OVC in scoring average this fall. That list includes Tate Chumley (72.6), Jonathan Xoinis (73.2), Jacob Uehlein (73.4) and Garrett Chumley (73.7).
The Skyhawks begin their spring slate on Feb. 20-22 when they head to Goodyear, Ariz. for the Loyola Intercollegiate. UT Martin will compete in six regular season spring events before the 2022 OVC Championships are set for April 24-27 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information