By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The final round of the Loyola Intercollegiate brought along plenty of birdies for the University of Tennessee at Martin golf team as the Skyhawks delivered their best round of the three-day event.
UT Martin shot a 286 (-2) today, making the second biggest jump in the team standings. The Skyhawks carded 21 birdies and an eagle for the third consecutive day in Round 3, ending the tournament with a total score of 879 (+15) to rank 13th in a stacked field of 18 squads.
“I was proud of our guys’ effort today,” UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. “We accomplished what we wanted to do in posting our best round of the tournament and moved up a few spots. We were able to build momentum for next week.”
Garrett Chumley produced the best Skyhawk score today with a 69 (-3) that included a pair of birdies and an eagle on the par-5, 515-yard Hole No. 2. The freshman from Murfreesboro, Tenn. committed only one bogey on his scorecard, shooting 4-under through his final 14 holes.
Bryson Morrell reeled off three birdies and 13 pars during his middle 16 holes today, finishing with a 71 (-1). Tate Chumley made six birdies today, shooting 4-under over his last 13 holes on the way to a 71 (-1). Jacob Uehlein shot a 75 (+3) for the third straight day, making three birdies to complete the team scoring.
UT Martin’s fifth member of the scoring lineup was Jonathan Xoinis, whose 81 (+9) included one birdie.
Competing individually, Cayden Chambers wrapped up his solid tournament by tying his career-best score with a 70 (-2). He tapped in six birdies – three on each side – today.
For the tournament, Morrell’s even-par 216 led the Skyhawks as the junior posted the best par-3 scoring average (3.08, +1 – seventh-best in the 110-man field) and par-5 scoring average (4.58, -5) on the squad.
The freshman duo of Garrett Chumley and Chambers each compiled 219’s (+3) in the tournament. Chumley guided UT Martin in par-4 scoring (4.07, +2), eagles (two) and pars (36) over the 54-hole event. Chambers’ score ranked fifth amongst the 20 golfers who were playing as individuals.
Tate Chumley topped the Skyhawks in birdies (12) and par-5 scoring (4.58, -5) in the tournament, finishing with an overall score of 222 (+6). Uehlein (225, +9) and Xoinis (234, +18) rounded out UT Martin’s participation in the spring-opening event.
The Skyhawks are right back at it next week, traveling to the Gulf Coast Collegiate at Diamondhead Country Club in Bay St. Louis, Miss. The tournament will take place on Feb. 28 through March 1 and is hosted by New Orleans.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information