University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Tennessee/Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions
Tennessee Wins Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions
October 23, 2001 | Men's Golf
Oct. 23, 2001
 Head coach Jim Kelson comments on the Vols' victory |
KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee captured the 14th annual Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions title this afternoon at Cherokee Country Club in Knoxville.
The Vols, who entered the day seven shots behind Toledo, shot a 4-under-par 276 today to win the event for the first time since 1992. Tennessee finished the tournament 1-over-par (841) for the 54-hole event, but shot a blistering -6 on the final 36 holes of the tournament.
"I thought it was great that the tournament was really tight and extremely competitive," head coach Jim Kelson said. "The fact that we played solid down the stretch when Auburn and Toledo were playing so well. I saw a lot of great shots. "The thing I'm most proud about is the way we came back after the start we had."
Auburn (844) finished runner-up, three shots back after carding a 2-under 278 today. Alabama (846) came in third, three shots better than second-round leader Toledo (849). College of Charleston (851) rounded out the top five.
Alabama's Nick Rousey won individual honors with a 10-under-par (70-64-66-270). Auburn's Kevin Haefner, Kyle Bradley of College of Charleston and Virginia's Kevin O'Connell finished runner up by shooting a 3-under-par 207.
Tennessee's Ian Parnaby (66-71-71-208) led the Vols with a fifth-place individual finish. The Vols other finishers were David Skinns at 10th-place (75-66-70-211), Andrew Black at No. 16 (76-71-66-213), Andrew Pratt at 26th (72-70-73-215) and Jimmy Black at 31st (74-74-69-217). UT's Ross McGowan, who played as an individual, finished 14th with a 2-over-par 212 (71-67-74).
Kelson said he was pleased with his team's effort during the tournament and thinks his team's hard work has led to his team's maturity. "There has been a lot of hard work lately by our players," Kelson said. "I think a lot of our success lately has been due to the maturity of our team. Our team is maturing and it has been a real team effort. I thought David fought hard today to finish with a good round. He never panicked while being three over. Jimmy White and Andrew Black played the way they were capable of playing. They are seniors and made up their minds they were going to play well."
Tennessee defeated five other teams ranked in the top 35 of the Golfweek rankings. The Vols defeated No. 15 Auburn who finished second with an 844, No. 32 Alabama who finished in third with an 846, No. 28 Toledo who shot an 849 to finish in fourth, No. 34 College of Charleston, who finished fifth with a score of 851 and No. 31 Virginia, who shot an 854 to finish in sixth.
Tennessee, ranked No. 2 nationally by Golfweek, completes its fall schedule this weekend at Baton Rouge in the Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate.
Players Mentioned
