By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Ohio Valley Conference announced its postseason golf accolades this evening and the University of Tennessee at Martin’s Dax Isbell earned a spot on the five-man All-OVC Newcomer squad.
Isbell becomes the 13th different Skyhawk to be voted as an All-OVC Newcomer, joining a list that includes current teammates Jacob Uehlein (2020), Garrett Chumley (2022) and Jonathan Xoinis (2022) as well as head coach Austin Swafford (2014).
A Cumming, Ga. native, Isbell has emerged into one of UT Martin’s best golfers as part of a blossoming freshman campaign. During the 2022-23 regular season, he completed 21 rounds over eight stroke-play events, posting a 75.1 scoring average.
Isbell shot par or better on three separate occasions, including a career-best 67 – tied for the best score by any Skyhawk all season – during the second round of the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate on April 10. He has produced 17 countable scores in 20 opportunities in the scoring lineup – including an active stretch of 15 of his last 16 chances through today’s opening round of the OVC Championships.
The North Forsyth High School product paced UT Martin in back-to-back tournaments earlier this month. Isbell placed 12th out of 84 competitors with a 217 (+1) in the Ernie Denham Classic on April 3-4 and finished 12th in the field of 90 with a 212 (-1) at the aforementioned TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate on April 10-11.
Isbell also notched a pair of head-to-head victories in match play this season, winning against OVC foes Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech at the second annual Carpenter/Chaney Classic held in Mims, Fla. on Feb. 10-11.
Currently occupying the No. 2 spot in the Skyhawk lineup at the 2023 OVC Championships, Isbell is set to tee off the second round tomorrow at 10:50 a.m.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information