University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, February 9
Rio Grand, Puerto Rico
University of Tennessee
vs
Puerto Rico Classic - Round 1
#18/20 Vols Tied for Fourth After Puerto Rico Classic Round One
February 09, 2026 | Men's Golf
RIO GRANDÉ, Puerto Rico – The No. 18/20 Tennessee men's golf team began the spring season at the Puerto Rico Classic on Monday, where the Vols are tied for fourth place at 12-under-par through 18 holes of play.
All six golfers representing Tennessee recorded scores under par in round one, helping the Vols to a top four placement among the 15 teams competing.
No. 1 Virginia leads the field after posting an impressive 22-under-par in the first round, one stroke better than second-placed Ohio State. No. 2 LSU is the third team currently ahead of the Vols, two strokes ahead at 14-under-par. Tied with Tennessee at 12-under-par are Georgia, South Carolina, Iowa, and No. 14 Oklahoma.
Lance Simpson led the way for the Vols on Monday with a bogey-free 5-under-par 67. The star senior tallied four birdies on the day, in addition to a chip-in eagle at hole No. 13. It is Simpson's seventh round of the season in the 60s and has him tied for eighth place in the field of 85, just two strokes behind the individual leader.
Luke Smith posted a new career-best single round score in Monday's first round, carding a 4-under-par 68. The Canadian freshman tallied five birdies on the day, including four on the back nine, to just one bogey. Smith increases his tally to three rounds of par or better this season and sits tied for 17th place heading into Tuesday's second round.
Also tied for 17th place is Bruce Murphy, who is competing outside of the Vols' lineup as an individual this week. Murphy posted birdies on five of his first eight holes before finishing the day at 4-under-par with a final tally of five birdies. The 67 ties Murphy's second-best round of the season.
Jackson Herrington closed the day at 2-under-par for the Vols. The sophomore opened the morning in style, carding an eagle on his first hole of the day at hole No. 5. Two birdies neutralized a double bogey on the back nine to help Herrington earn a 70, tied for 33rd place entering round two on Tuesday.
Reed Lotter and Josh Hill tied for Tennessee's final countable team score in round one, as each tallied a 1-under-par 71. Lotter posted birdies on his first two holes of the day, before bouncing back from two consecutive bogeys on the back nine with a birdie on hole No. 17. Hill had an up and down day consisting of five birdies and four bogeys. The pair is tied for 45th place with 36 holes of play remaining.
The Puerto Rico Classic continues Tuesday morning, with a shotgun start set for 7:30 a.m. EST.
Puerto Rico Classic Standings (Round 1)
1. Virginia (-22)
2. Ohio State (-21)
3. LSU (-14)
T-4. Tennessee (-12)
T-4. Georgia (-12)
T-4. South Carolina (-12)
T-4. Iowa (-12)
T-4. Oklahoma (-12)
T-9. Charleston (-8)
T-9. Marquette (-8)
T-11. North Florida (-5)
T-11. Purdue (-5)
T-13. Louisville (-3)
T-13. Wisconsin (-3)
15. Minnesota (-2)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-8. Lance Simpson: 67 (-5)
T-17. Luke Smith: 68 (-4)
T-17. Bruce Murphy (i): 68 (-4)
T-33. Jackson Herrington: 70 (-2)
T-45. Reed Lotter: 71 (-1)
T-45. Josh Hill: 71 (-1)
All six golfers representing Tennessee recorded scores under par in round one, helping the Vols to a top four placement among the 15 teams competing.
No. 1 Virginia leads the field after posting an impressive 22-under-par in the first round, one stroke better than second-placed Ohio State. No. 2 LSU is the third team currently ahead of the Vols, two strokes ahead at 14-under-par. Tied with Tennessee at 12-under-par are Georgia, South Carolina, Iowa, and No. 14 Oklahoma.
Lance Simpson led the way for the Vols on Monday with a bogey-free 5-under-par 67. The star senior tallied four birdies on the day, in addition to a chip-in eagle at hole No. 13. It is Simpson's seventh round of the season in the 60s and has him tied for eighth place in the field of 85, just two strokes behind the individual leader.
Luke Smith posted a new career-best single round score in Monday's first round, carding a 4-under-par 68. The Canadian freshman tallied five birdies on the day, including four on the back nine, to just one bogey. Smith increases his tally to three rounds of par or better this season and sits tied for 17th place heading into Tuesday's second round.
Also tied for 17th place is Bruce Murphy, who is competing outside of the Vols' lineup as an individual this week. Murphy posted birdies on five of his first eight holes before finishing the day at 4-under-par with a final tally of five birdies. The 67 ties Murphy's second-best round of the season.
Jackson Herrington closed the day at 2-under-par for the Vols. The sophomore opened the morning in style, carding an eagle on his first hole of the day at hole No. 5. Two birdies neutralized a double bogey on the back nine to help Herrington earn a 70, tied for 33rd place entering round two on Tuesday.
Reed Lotter and Josh Hill tied for Tennessee's final countable team score in round one, as each tallied a 1-under-par 71. Lotter posted birdies on his first two holes of the day, before bouncing back from two consecutive bogeys on the back nine with a birdie on hole No. 17. Hill had an up and down day consisting of five birdies and four bogeys. The pair is tied for 45th place with 36 holes of play remaining.
The Puerto Rico Classic continues Tuesday morning, with a shotgun start set for 7:30 a.m. EST.
Puerto Rico Classic Standings (Round 1)
1. Virginia (-22)
2. Ohio State (-21)
3. LSU (-14)
T-4. Tennessee (-12)
T-4. Georgia (-12)
T-4. South Carolina (-12)
T-4. Iowa (-12)
T-4. Oklahoma (-12)
T-9. Charleston (-8)
T-9. Marquette (-8)
T-11. North Florida (-5)
T-11. Purdue (-5)
T-13. Louisville (-3)
T-13. Wisconsin (-3)
15. Minnesota (-2)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-8. Lance Simpson: 67 (-5)
T-17. Luke Smith: 68 (-4)
T-17. Bruce Murphy (i): 68 (-4)
T-33. Jackson Herrington: 70 (-2)
T-45. Reed Lotter: 71 (-1)
T-45. Josh Hill: 71 (-1)
Players Mentioned
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