By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Ethan Ray, a redshirt sophomore at the University of Tennessee at Martin, was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Week this morning.
Ray becomes the 17th different Skyhawk to claim an OVC Golfer of the Week award and second this season, joining teammate Bryson Morrell (who won the award back on Sept. 21).
Earlier this week, Ray paced UT Martin at the Mountaineer Invitational held in Bridgeport, W.Va. He placed 26th in the loaded field of 80 participants with a final score of 227 (+11), ranking second in the entire tournament with 37 pars.
Ray also guided the Skyhawks in par-3 scoring (3.42, +5), par-4 scoring (4.20, +6) and par-5 scoring (5.00, E) while battling unfavorable windy conditions on a demanding Pete Dye Golf Club course.
The Collierville, Tenn. native carded a first-round 72 that placed him third in the individual standings, just one stroke behind the leader (and eventual tournament winner Jonas Baumgartner from No. 20 ranked Oklahoma State). Ray followed that with a team-best 80 in the second round and a 75 in Round 3.
Ray ranks amongst UT Martin’s team leaders in scoring average (74.08), competing in 13 rounds of stroke play this season while also boasting a 3-1 record in match play.
Ray and the two-time defending OVC champion Skyhawks are now preparing for the 2023 OVC Championships, which will be held on April 23-26 at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information