By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin head golf coach Austin Swafford has announced the signing of Graedon Woodward, who has spent the last two seasons at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
A native of Cardston, Alberta, Woodward will be the first Canadian to play for the Skyhawks since Jamie Ball (2001-03). Woodward will have three years of eligibility remaining at UT Martin.
“I am excited to add Graedon to our program,” Swafford said. “I believe he will come in and fit right in with our team and culture. He’s proven he can play at the collegiate level by starting for Iowa Western so adding his experience will be helpful. He’s a great young man – I am thrilled to have him join our team and compete.”
Woodward took part in 18 tournaments in two seasons for the Reivers, helping the program to back-to-back NJCAA Tournament appearances. Iowa Western won 10 total tournaments during his tenure, including the school’s first-ever district title last season. In 2021-22, the Reivers sported their highest NJCAA ranking (seventh) in program history.
Playing under head coach Matt Robinson, Woodward carded a 73.1 scoring average this past season. Eleven of his 23 rounds were played at par or better, including a season-best 67 during the first round of the Siouxland Invitational on Sept. 13. He produced five top-10 and eight top-20 finishes in 10 tournaments, including a second-place effort (70-69; 139) in the Grand View Invitational on Oct. 18-19.
As a true freshman playing for head coach Derrick Thompson, Woodward was responsible for a 76.6 scoring average. His 2020-21 campaign included a trio of rounds at par or better, including a season-best 70 in the second round of the UC Ferguson Invitational on April 12. He placed fourth (71-73; 144) in the DMACC Spring Invitational on April 5, which was one of two top-10 and five top-25 finishes during the season.
Woodward graduated from Cardston High School, where he enjoyed immense success at the amateur level. In 2021 alone, he won the Davis Auto Group Men’s Invitational with rounds of 68-72-65 (final round 65 tied the course record and included a remarkable 29 on the front-nine) and the Magrath Open (74-70) while finishing third in the Alberta Junior Open. His win at the Davis Auto Group Men’s Invitational earned him a trip to the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, held in Sainte-Julie, Quebec.
Also in his junior career, Woodward placed sixth in the 2020 Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Team Challenge held at Royal Niagara Golf Course and additionally finished seventh in the 2019 MJT Alberta Season Opener held at Paradise Canyon Golf and Country Club. He came in second place – just one shot off medalist honors – in the South Zone tournament in September 2019 and also finished as runner-up in the 2018 MJT Juvenile Boys event.
Woodward joins Luke Caldwell (Cookeville, Tenn.), Dax Isbell (Cumming, Ga.) and Rocco Zakutney (Paducah, Ky.) in the 2022-23 signing class for UT Martin, who is coming off back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championship and NCAA Regional appearances.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information