University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Davidson College Invitational
Team Effort Captures Davidson Title
March 04, 2014 | Men's Golf
March 4, 2014
Davidson, N.C. -- On Tuesday, the Tennessee men's golf team won its first tournament championship of the season. The Vols cruised to an 11 stroke victory at the Davidson College Invitational after carding a 36-hole total of 587 (+11). UT finished ahead of the No. 24 ranked Kent State Golden Flashes.
The Davidson Invitational was shortened to 36 holes due to cold weather. The change marked the third consecutive tournament that weather has alerted play for the Vols.
Three Volunteers finished in the top-ten to led UT to its first championship since last year's C&F Bank Intercollegiate.
Recording his best finish of the season, Oliver Goss placed runner-up at one-under par. The second place finish marks Goss' fourth top-ten finish of the season. The Australian sank ten birdies over 36 holes.
Freshman Jack Smith had a career best finish of sixth place at the River Run Country Club Course. The Knoxville native recovered from a rough first day to shoot a final round 71 (-1).
"I was pretty pleased with how I played today," Smith said. "The winds were swirling so it was difficult to get close to the hole. I did well to grind out a lot of pars after a fine start."
Chad Merzbacher rounded out the Tennessee top-ten trio. The sophomore carded a two day total of 149 (+5) to finish tied for seventh place.
"I didn't have my best game today," Merzbacher said. "I scrapped it around and shot some decent numbers. I just need to take advantage of the weather next week and play a lot better to prepare for our next event."
Englishman Danny Keddie recorded a season best finish (T-12th) after totaling 151 (+7). Senior Marshall Talkington entered Tuesday in second place. However, a rough battle with the weather saw Talkington card a final round 85, dropping him into a tie for 31st.
Sophomore Mike Nagy finished tied for 31st in his first start of the season. The Michigan native carded a two day total of 158 (+14). Nagy competed as an individual for head coach Jim Kelson.
Tennessee will take a two week break before returning to action on March 17 at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate.
For the final Davidson leaderboard, Click Here.
Volunteer fans can continue to keep up with the team by following @Vol_Golf on Twitter.
| TEAM SCORES (Final) | ||
| 1. | Tennessee | 293-294--587 (+11) |
| 2. | Kent State | 304-294--598 (+22) |
| 3. | Radford | 312-300--612 (+36) |
| 4. | Davidson | 309-305--614 (+38) |
| 5. | Wofford College | 316-302--618 (+42) |
| 6. | Gardner-Webb | 307-312--619 (+43) |
| 7. | Marshall | 314-312--626 (+50) |
| T-8. | High Point | 319-311--630 (+54) |
| T-8. | St. Bonaventure | 321-309--630 (+54) |
| 10. | Presbyterian | 329-303--632 (+56) |
| 11. | Longwood | 337-309--646 (+70) |
| 12. | Drexel | 333-326--659 (+83) |
| 13. | La Salle | 339-328--667 (+91) |
| 14. | Holy Cross | 371-349--720 (+144) |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Final) | ||
| 1. | Conner Hayden, Radford | 73-67--142 (-2) |
| 2. | Oliver Goss, Tennessee | 71-72--143 (-1) |
| 3. | Corey Conners, Kent State | 73-72--145 (+1) |
| UT SCORES (Final) | ||
| 2. | Oliver Goss | 71-72--143 (-1) |
| 6. | Jack Smith | 77-71--148 (+4) |
| T-7. | Chad Merzbacher | 75-74--149 (+5) |
| T-12. | Danny Keddie | 74-77--151 (+7) |
| T-31. | Marshall Talkington | 73-85--158 (+14) |
| *T-31. | Mike Nagy | 81-77--158 (+14) |
