Webb Announces Signings of Simpson and Desmarchais

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men's golf coach Brennan Webb announced the signings of two golfers in the class of 2021 Wednesday.

The Vols are set to add talent from the local ranks as well as from north of the border, welcoming Knoxville native Lance Simpson and Canadian product Laurent Desmarchais.

Both Desmarchais and Simpson boast impressive resumes. Desmarchais is coming off a summer in which he won an event on the PGA Tour Canada as an amateur, while in Simpson, the Vols are set to add a top-25 player in the nation in the class of 2021 according to Junior Golf Scoreboard.

Lance Simpson | Knoxville, Tennessee | Farragut High School

The No. 21 ranked golfer in the 2021 class, Lance Simpson has left his mark on high school golf in the state of Tennessee.

The Farragut High School product claimed the 2018 and 2020 TSSAA Class AAA individual state titles, while also helping lead the Admirals to the team title last month. Simpson's 13-under performance during two rounds at the 2020 TSSAA state championships was the second-best tournament score in state history.

Simpson also claimed the 2020 Tennessee Junior PGA Championship by eight strokes in June after shooting 10-under in two rounds at Nashville's Old Hickory Country Club.

"One of our priorities in recruiting is to recruit the in-state players who have proven they can compete at an elite level nationally," Webb said. "Lance is a perfect example of someone who fits that criteria.

"His physical skill set will translate very well to the highest levels of college golf."

Laurent Desmarchais | Longueuil, Quebec | Cégep André-Laurendeau

Tennessee is set to welcome another international product to its roster with the addition of Laurent Desmarchais, a member of the Canadian Junior National Team.

Desmarchais already has a win on the PGA Tour Canada to his credit as an amateur, as he claimed the title at the season-ending Canada Life Series Championship in September. Desmarchais took the event by storm during its first round, in which he shot a 9-under 62.

The Quebec native also navigated stroke play qualifying and match play to win the 168-player Pacific Northwest Amateur in 2019.

"Laurent is a proven winner, already having won at the highest levels of junior and amateur golf, as well as having won an event this summer on the PGA Tour Canada," Webb said. "His maturity – both physically and mentally – will allow him a very easy transition into elite college golf competition."

University of Tennessee Athletics

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