By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – In its final tuneup before the Ohio Valley Conference Golf Championships next week, the University of Tennessee at Martin concluded the Mountaineer Invitational with its best round at Pete Dye Golf Club.
The Skyhawks shot a 300 (+12) in the final round, which was 21 strokes better than its previous best score in the event. UT Martin also completed the second round this morning after Monday’s darkness delay, carding a 325. Overall, the Skyhawks tallied a 946 (+82) for the 54-hole tournament while No. 20 ranked Oklahoma State (875, +11) won the event by 20 strokes.
“I’m proud of the guys for battling today and shooting our best round of the tournament,” UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. “This was the most demanding course we played this season and we played it in windy conditions. It was a great test of golf and will help us improve going forward.”
Ethan Ray led the Skyhawks with a 227 (+11), which ranked 26th in a talented field of 80 golfers. The redshirt sophomore out of Collierville, Tenn. finished Round 2 with an 80 before shaving five strokes for a final-round 75. He registered the second-most pars (37) in the field while guiding UT Martin in par-3 scoring (3.42, +5), par-4 scoring (4.20, +6) and par-5 scoring (5.00, E).
Ray and Bryson Morrell shared the team lead in Round 2 with scores of 80 apiece. Jonathan Xoinis followed with an 82 that included one of just 10 eagles for the entire tournament while Jacob Uehlein and Dax Isbell (team-best three birdies) were each responsible for 83’s.
Four of the six Skyhawk golfers earned their best score of the tournament during today’s final round. Morrell secured a 73 that included three birdies and was followed by Isbell’s 75 which also featured three red digits on the scorecard. Ray rounded out his impressive tournament with a 75 while Uehlein’s 77 (three birdies) completed the team scoring. Xoinis posted an 84 as the fifth member of UT Martin’s lineup.
Competing on an individual basis, Luke Caldwell tapped in three birdies on his way to an 85 in Round 2 before shooting an 83 in the third round.
Overall, Uehlein finished with a 238 (+22) while Morrell (240, +24) led the Skyhawks with six birdies while tying Ray for the best par-5 scoring average (5.00, E) on the squad. Xoinis came away with a 250 (+34) while Caldwell registered a 253 (+37). Isbell’s two-round total came out to a 158 (+14) as he equaled Morrell for a team-high with six birdies.
UT Martin will chase after its third consecutive OVC team title next week at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. This year’s league championship is set for Sunday, April 23 through Wednesday, April 26.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information