University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Looking for Bounce-Back Tourney
October 13, 2011 | Men's Golf
Oct. 13, 2011
BY JOHN PAINTER
UTSports.com
Hello, Ridges!
If the Tennessee men's golf team doesn't outright utter that phrase in unison sometime during Thursday's practice round for this weekend's Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at Blackthorn Club, it at least has to be a passing thought.
The Ridges golf links, now known as Blackthorn Club at The Ridges, has been a friendly tournament location for the UT golf program. Set in nearby Jonesborough, Big Orange fans will be in abundance when the three-day event begins Friday morning.
"There are a lot of Tennessee fans at this tournament and a lot of members of the club who are Tennessee fans, so this almost feels like a home event," UT head coach Jim Kelson said. "We love going, and it's right there as one of our favorite tournaments. It's always nice to go back to Jonesborough."
"We've had some success there and a few times we haven't played like would have wanted to, such as last year," Kelson said. The Vols opened with a tough first day in 2010 and tied for fifth.
"Hopefully, we turn it around this week," he added. "It's a big week for us. We want to bounce back after a really disappointing tournament in Durham, and I think we're ready to do that."
Tennessee is looking to rebound after finishing seventh earlier this month at Duke's Rod Myers Invitational. The Vols claimed second place at the season-opening Carpet Capital Collegiate, boosting their ranking into the top 10 in two of the three major polls.
This week, UT stands 29th in the Golfstat.com ratings, 33rd in Golfweek/Sagarin and remains 19th in the latest Golf World Division I College Coaches' Poll.
Kelson's lineup is the same for the second straight tournament, with Garrick Porteous, Danny Keddie, Jay Vandeventer, Rick Lamb and Marshall Talkington. Darren Renwick once again is playing as an individual.
"I always look forward it as going back home and wanting to play well so the people back there know we're playing good golf," Vandeventer said. "It's a great golf course and the greens are always in good shape.
"I get the expectations of `well, he's a local boy,' but that's why I enjoy going there. I enjoy the course, the layout, everything about it. It's getting better each year."
Vandeventer says despite the disappointing finish at Duke, the team brought back plenty of positives.
"I know everybody didn't have their A-game there, but we worked through it and have been mentally preparing for this one," he said. "We are just going to try to out-prepare everybody else and be ready for what the course gives us."
Six teams are ranked inside the Golfstat.com top 50, led by defending BTI champion Virginia at No. 7. Clemson is ninth, Kent State 25th, Virginia Tech 35th and Memphis 50th, in addition to Tennessee.
The 14th annual BTI begins Friday, with Tennessee opening on the 10th tee at 11 a.m. The Vols are playing alongside Virginia and N.C. State.
Friday's weather calls for morning showers and then clearing and windy conditions, with a high of 66. Live stats and a live radio feed are available at Golfstat.com.
