Tennessee Captures First Tournament Title of the Season by 16 Strokes

Tuesday, October 8

College Grove, Tn | The Grove Club

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University of Tennessee

Intercollegiate at The Grove

Tennessee Captures First Tournament Title of the Season by 16 Strokes

October 08, 2019 | Men's Golf

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Redshirt junior Tyler Johnson won his first collegiate individual title by two strokes over the field

By: Andy Kovar

COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men's golf team captured its first tournament title of the season in dominant fashion, winning over the Intercollegiate at the Grove field by 16 strokes.

The Vols carded a new 36-hole tournament record with a score of 569 (-7). The event, which was originally scheduled for 54 holes, was reduced to a 36-hole tournament due to weather before Monday's second round.

Playing as an individual this week, redshirt junior Tyler Johnson claimed the Intercollegiate at the Grove individual title with a new 36-hole tournament record score of 138 (-6). It marks the first time in his collegiate career he has won an individual title.

Johnson, who had plenty of familiarity with the course after two seasons at Middle Tennessee, closed out his round with a flurry of birdies. In the final four holes of the second round, he poured in three birdies to leap up to the top of the leaderboard, winning by two strokes over the field.

In total, Tennessee had five players finish inside of the top 10 with nine players picking up top-25 finishes. Redshirt junior Hunter Wolcott had the low score in the lineup, tying for second at 4-under-par.

Wolcott and the other four players in the lineup all shot par or better on Tuesday as the Vols had the best score on the course by four strokes. Every player in the lineup was tied for 13th or better on the individual leaderboard

Redshirt junior Chip Thomas had the low score in the lineup. He carded a final round 70 (-2), helping him move up eight spots into a tie for eighth.

Junior Spencer Cross (-3) picked up his highest finish of the season and second career top-5 finish, tying for fourth with his lowest to par score since his freshman season.

Coach's Take
On winning by 16 strokes over the field:
"It's not always the easiest thing to do when you when on paper you are the team that's supposed to win. To have a target on our back with all of these in-state teams here, these guys did a great job this week. I'm proud of them." – Coach Brennan Webb

On Tyler Johnson and whole team playing well this week:
"It just shows the depth of our squad, which we know is a strength of ours. I'm excited for Tyler to win when it has been a tough year for him. He played his entire college career in the lineup and hasn't been in the lineup yet this year. To come here and take advantage of this opportunity and get a win is huge for him." – Coach Brennan Webb

On carrying that momentum into the next tournament on Friday:
"We're very confident right now. These guys are ready to go. When you get the stretch the tournament's back-to-back to back like this, it's kind of a risk of whether you are on a hot streak. I feel good to where we are right now. We are looking forward to next two weeks." – Coach Brennan Webb

Player's Take
On winning his first collegiate title:
"I know this golf course really well since I played it a bunch when I was playing at Middle Tennessee State. It was almost relief when I got done because I was getting a little bit nervous coming on last few holes. I didn't know where I was at, but I knew it was good. At the same time, I just had pure excitement. I never imagined myself winning here, especially this week playing in individual spot." – Redshirt junior Tyler Johnson

On having three birdies on the final four holes:
"I had to work for him. I had a tough putt on No. 10 and No. 9. I had a good shot on No. 9 and got a good break on it. It's just perseverance and just kind of knowing where you can miss it on this course." – Redshirt junior Tyler Johnson

Final Scores:
Team

1	Tennessee	-7 (569)
2	Lamar	+9 (585)
T3	Western Kentucky	+12 (588)
T3	Lipscomb	+12 (588)
5	South Alabama	+13 (589)
6	Troy	+16 (592)
7	Middle Tennessee State	+18 (594)
T8	Tennessee Tech	+24 (600)
T8	Louisiana Tech	+24 (600)
T10	Francis Marion	+26 (602)
T10	Mercer	+26 (602)
12	South Dakota State	+31 (607)
13	Eastern Kentucky	+33 (609)
14	Charleston Southern	+47 (623)

Tennessee Team

Hunter Wolcott	T2	140 (-4)
Spencer Cross	T4	142 (-2)
Chip Thomas	T8	143 (-1)
Brayden Garrison	T10	144 (E)
Rhys Nevin	T13	145 (+1)

Tennessee Individual

Tyler Johnson	1	138 (-6)
Bryce Lewis	T13	145 (+1)
Jake Hall	T20	147 (+3)
Chase Roswall	T24	148 (+4)
Sean Wilcox	T63	156 (+12)

Up Next
Tennessee is back on the course on Friday when it tees off the first round at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Vols placed third in the event last season with a season-low three-round score of 835 (-29).