By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Tennessee at Martin golf squad produced its best round of the Ernie Denham Classic today while freshman Dax Isbell placed 12th in the individual standings at the two-day, 54-hole tournament held at the Standard Club.
The Skyhawks carded a 291 (+3) today, which was seven strokes better than their previous best round in the event. Overall, UT Martin finished with a cumulative score of 890 (+26) to finish ninth out of 14 teams.
Isbell retained the momentum from his successful first day of the tournament with a 71 (-1) today that included a team-high four birdies and one eagle. The Cumming, Ga. native only had two holes of bogey or worse in Round 3, closing out his day by shooting 3-under par over his final eight holes.
Overall, Isbell’s 217 (+1) for the event ranked just outside the top-10 in the stacked field of 84 participants. For the tournament, he guided the Skyhawks in birdies (11), par-4 scoring (4.10, +3) and par-5 scoring (4.67, -4).
“I’m really proud of Dax and how he handled himself this week,” UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. “He’s got the ability and drive to play this game really well and this week was a step in the right direction. He made a few mistakes but I think that’s just being a younger player still trying to be perfect. He stuck to his strategy though and led the way for us.”
Tying Isbell for the Skyhawks’ best Round 3 score was Jonathan Xoinis, who also tallied a 71 (-1) that included three birdies. The redshirt sophomore from Chattanooga, Tenn. started his day with a 1-under par score through 10 holes.
Jacob Uehlein sat at even-par through 12 holes today before settling for a 74 (+2) that included three birdies on his scorecard. Bryson Morrell (15 pars) and Luke Caldwell (two birdies) each shot a 75 (+3) to complete UT Martin’s scoring lineup.
Behind a team-best par-5 scoring performance (4.67, -4), Morrell finished the tournament with a cumulative score of 223 (+7). Uehlein paced the Skyhawks in par-3 scoring average (3.08, +1) on his way to a final tally of 227 (+11). Xoinis (228, +12) ranked third in the entire tournament with 36 pars and tied two other teammates with the best par-5 scoring average (4.67, -4) while Caldwell generated a final score of 231 (+15).
UT Martin returns to the links next week with a short drive to the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate, held at Hermitage Golf Course in Old Hickory, Tenn. on April 10-11.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information