By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of Tennessee at Martin golf squad moved up one spot on the team leaderboard on the final day of the Pinetree Intercollegiate, held at the Pinetree Country Club.
For the second time in three rounds of the tournament, Cayden Chambers led the Skyhawks with a 77 today. The sophomore out of Waverly, Tenn. posted two birdies in his final three holes, increasing his total to three red scores on the day.
Tying UT Martin for the best score in Round 3 was true freshman Dax Isbell. Making his first collegiate start in a return to his home state, the Cumming, Ga. native collected a pair of birdies on the way to a 77.
Jacob Uehlein’s 78 was the next best score for the Skyhawks today as the senior from Tullahoma, Tenn. shot even par with one birdie and seven pars on his back-nine. UT Martin’s final scorer today was freshman Rocco Zakutney, who sank one birdie and recorded a score of 79.
The final member of the Skyhawk lineup was Jonathan Xoinis (85 with one birdie). Jackson Twerdahl shot an 81 while playing as an individual, generating the team’s lone Round 3 eagle to go along with one birdie.
Overall, Chambers’ 229 (+13) was the lowest score for UT Martin over the 54-hole event. Zakutney accounted for a 232 (+16) while the trio of Uehlein (237, +21), Xoinis (238, +22) and Isbell (239, +23) concluded the Skyhawk lineup. Twerdahl finished with a 242 (+26). Zakutney had led all UT Martin representatives with seven birdies and had the team’s best par-3 scoring average (3.17, +2) while Chambers recorded UT Martin’s best par-4 (4.30, +9) and par-5 (4.92, -1) scoring averages. Isbell tied Chambers for the team lead in par-5 scoring average (4.92, -1). Uehlein carded a team-high 30 pars for the tournament.
As a team, the Skyhawks compiled a 311 (+23) today, bringing their three-round tally to 925 (+61). UT Martin finished 10th in the field of 11 teams as Mercer (866, +2) won the event by 22 strokes.
“Obviously we had higher expectations for not only this week but this fall as a whole,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “I have to do a better job in how we prepare for each tournament – whether that’s at home in practice or at a tournament during the pratcie round. We have one final fall tournament next week and we are looking forward to that challenge. I am confident in our team being ready to compete and ending the fall slate on a high note.”
UT Martin hosts the Clash at the Country Club in Paducah, Ky. on Monday, Oct. 24 – an 18-hole match play event against Western Kentucky. Action at the Country Club of Paducah begins at 9:30 a.m.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information