University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Host Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions
September 07, 2000 | Men's Golf
The Tennessee Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions will enter its 13th year in 2000, with 14 universities, including four ranked teams, set to compete. WIVK is also a sponsor and the tournament is slated for Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 18-19. The tournament will be held at Holston Hills Country Club.
Joining Tennessee in this year's field is defending champion Augusta State. Also competing are LSU, North Florida, Florida State, East Tennessee State, Southern Mississippi, UT Chattanooga, Auburn, North Carolina State, Georgia Southern, Florida, Virginia and Central Florida.
The 14 participating teams will play practice rounds Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m. The first 36 holes of the tournament will be played Monday beginning at 8:45 a.m. as tee times for day one have been predetermined. Tee times will begin at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday for the final 18 holes of the tournament. Teams will tee off Tuesday based on their scores from Monday's action.
"This tournament gives area golf fans a chance to see some of the best collegiate golfers in the country compete," said Chip Bryant, Tennessee's assistant athletic director for marketing. "Holston Hills is a great venue for the tournament, and the tournament will provide people with an opportunity to see the Tennessee linksters compete."
Andrew Black will lead Tennessee in this years tournament after taking runner-up honors a year ago. Black fired a 9-under par total of 207. Black was tied with Augusta States Michael Webb after regulation play but lost on the third playoff hole. Blacks strong finish propelled Tennessee to a third-place team finish in 1999. Webb led Augusta State to the team title last year.
This year's field features four teams from the Southeastern Conference including No. 12 Auburn and No. 19 Florida. No. 20 North Florida will also be competing, and No. 23 Augusta State returns to defend its title.
Top individual players scheduled to compete are East Tennessee State's Chris Wisler who is ranked No. 5 nationally. Also No. 17 Cameron Yancey and No. 19 Steve Marino will be competing for Virginia.
"I think the field is a lot stronger than in years past," head coach Jim Kelson said. "It became a lot stronger with the addition of Auburn and Florida. Playing at Holston Hills is a definite advantage for us, too. It does nothing but help our guys since it is one of our qualifying courses."
Tennessee last won the TOC in 1992, when rain shortened the Tournament to only one round. Tennessee's Andrew Black carded a 65 in the final round of the 1999 Tournament, tying the all-time Tournament record in the process, as the Vols finished third last year, their highest finish since 1992.
