University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Open Fall Golf Slate in North Georgia
September 10, 2009 | Men's Golf
Sept. 10, 2009
Tennessee begins -- and hopes to end -- its 2009-10 men's golf season within shouting distance of the Scenic City of Chattanooga.
The Vols open play Friday at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga., joining five other Southeastern Conference foes for the annual tee-off tournament. The three-day event takes place at The Farm (7,012 yards, par 72) and is the first of four tournaments on this year's fall schedule.
UT is ranked 18th in the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' preseason poll.
An especially satisfying finish to this season would find Tennessee competing at the Honors Course in Ooltewah come early June. That's when the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship returns to the Chattanooga area for the first time since 1996.
But first, Tennessee attempts to master the 12-team field at the Carpet Capital Collegiate. Once again this season, head coach Jim Kelson sports a balanced lineup of experience and newcomers. The Vols have junior Robin Wingardh, senior David Holmes, sophomore Darren Renwick, freshman Jay Vandeventer and sophomore Justin Walker in this week's lineup.
Wingardh participated this summer in the 2009 Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-style competition between top collegians from the United States and Europe. He earned Ping Southeast Region and second team All-SEC honors last season after registering a 72.86 stroke average.
Holmes had a busy summer. Among his highlights were medalist honors at Knoxville's Holston Hills Invitational, second place at the NCAA Northeast Regional, fifth at the Southwestern Amateur in Arizona and second at the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island. The Knoxville native also earned All-America honors for his 13th-place showing at the NCAA Championships.
Renwick made a run at the British Amateur, finishing in a third-place tie after losing to eventual champion Matteo Manassero. Renwick earned Freshman All-SEC honors for the Vols last season, highlighted by a seventh-place showing at the NCAA Northeast Regional that was the best of his young collegiate career.
Vandeventer cracks the lineup in his first collegiate tournament. The acclaimed freshman from Bristol won his final American Junior Golf Association tournament, a 10-stroke victory at The Virginian Golf Club in early August. He followed that up with a tie for seventh at the Tennessee State Amateur at The Honors Course.
Walker's solid preseason earned the sophomore the fifth and final position in UT's lineup. The Springfield product played in two events for the Vols last season, his best finish a tie for 67th at The Ridges Intercollegiate.
Ranked teams in this week's field in addition to Tennessee are No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Alabama, No. 11 Georgia Tech, No. 15 South Carolina, No. 19 Clemson and No. 24 Texas Tech. The remaining five teams received votes.
UT begins Friday at 9:50 a.m. on the 10th hole, playing with Ole Miss and Texas Tech. Check UTsports.com or golfstat.com for live scoring updates.
Players Mentioned
