Cross Captures Individual Title, Vols Second at Lewis Chitengwa Memorial

Tuesday, April 12

Charlottesville, VA | Birdwood Golf Course

ALL DAY

University of Tennessee

Lewis Chitengwa Memorial

Cross Captures Individual Title, Vols Second at Lewis Chitengwa Memorial

April 12, 2022 | Men's Golf

Team Leaderboard Individual Leaderboard

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Spencer Cross claimed his first career individual tournament championship, while Tennessee finished second as a team at the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial Tuesday at Birdwood Golf Club.

Shooting a three-round total of 12-under, Cross was four strokes clear of the tournament's second-place finisher. Cross made 17 total birdies during the event, as well as an eagle on hole 12 during round three.

Cross becomes the fourth current Vol to win an individual title while donning the orange and white, joining Bryce Lewis (2021 Collegiate Invitational at the Country Club of Birmingham), Tyler Johnson (2019 Intercollegiate at the Grove) and Hunter Wolcott (2019 Hayt Invitational).

Though it was his first individual title, Cross now has six career top-five finishes and 11 career top-10 finishes.

Tennessee's second-place team finish marks its best at any tournament this season. As a team, the Vols shot 14-under—just one stroke back from host school and tournament champion Virginia.

Lewis was Tennessee's second-highest finisher, shooting 1-under and tying for 21st place. It marks Lewis' fifth top-25 finish during the spring alone. Lewis carded rounds of 1-under and 4-under during the first two rounds, respectively, but shot 4-over during round three.

Johnson narrowly missed out on his third straight top-25 finish, shooting 1-over and tying for 27th place. Johnson has been Tennessee's third-highest finisher in all six spring tournaments.

Jake Hall shot one of Tennessee's two rounds of par or better on Tuesday, carding an even 71. Hall contributed 2.5 counting rounds for the Vols, tying for 38th place and shooting 4-over.

Wolcott contributed two counting rounds for Tennessee during the tournament, shooting rounds of even par and 1-over after carding a 5-over in round one. Wolcott finished tied for 43rd place.

Up next, Tennessee begins postseason play in just over a week at the SEC Championships in St. Simons Island, Georgia at Sea Island Golf Course. The event runs from April 20-24, consisting of three rounds of stroke play, following by three rounds of elimination match play.

CROSS' TITLE CARRIES EXTRA SIGNIFICANCE: This week's inaugural Lewis Chitengwa Memorial is named in honor of former Virginia All-America golfer Lewis Chitengwa, who passed away at age 26 as a result of meningitis. At the time, he was competing in the Canadian Tour's Edmonton Open.

Chitengwa's roommate on the Canadian Tour at the time of his passing in 2001 was Tennessee head coach Brennan Webb. Nearly 21 years later, one of Webb's golfers captured the individual title at the inaugural Lewis Chitengwa Memorial Tournament.

Individual Scores
1. Spencer Cross, -12
T21. Bryce Lewis, -1
T27. Tyler Johnson, +1
T38. Jake Hall, +4
T43. Hunter Wolcott, +6

Team Leaderboard
1. Virginia, -15 (837)
2. Tennessee, -14 (838)
3. North Florida, -11 (841)
4. Charlotte, -10 (842)
5. Kentucky, -8 (844)
6. Liberty, -6 (846)
7. Virginia Tech, -1 (851)
8. Coastal Carolina, E (852)
9. Virginia (B-Team), +6 (858)
10. Maryland, +14 (866)
11. St. Mary's, +15 (867)
12. East Carolina, +18 (870)
13. Texas State, +19 (871)
14. Loyola Maryland, +32 (884)