Murphy’s Big Day Leads #14 Vols Through Opening Two Rounds at Lewis Chitengwa Memorial

Monday, April 13

Charlottesville, Va.

University of Tennessee

Lewis Chitengwa Memorial - Rounds 1 & 2

Photo by: Jamie Holt/University of Virginia Athletics

Murphy’s Big Day Leads #14 Vols Through Opening Two Rounds at Lewis Chitengwa Memorial

April 13, 2026 | Men's Golf

Results

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 14 Tennessee men's golf team began its final regular season tournament on Monday at the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial.

The Volunteers completed two rounds on the day at Birdwood Golf Course, just the third time this season they have played multiple rounds in one day, finding themselves just six shots back of the team lead with one round remaining.

Tennessee opened the day with a 12-under-par 272 in round one, where all five members of the lineup shot even-par or better, followed by a 4-under-par 280 in round two. At 16-under-par overall, the Vols are tied for third place ahead of Tuesday's decisive third round. No. 2 Virginia, the tournament host, leads the 12-team field at 22-under-par, four strokes ahead of second-placed SMU at 18-under-par. No. 25 Florida State is tied with the Vols for third place at 16-under-par.

The story of the day for Tennessee was Bruce Murphy, who is squarely in contention for individual medalist honors through 36 holes. The redshirt junior began the day on fire, carding a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 in round one.

Murphy faced some adversity to begin his second round of the day, going 3-over-par on the front nine; however, he responded emphatically with five birdies and zero bogeys on the back nine to post a 2-under-par 69. At 9-under-par overall, Murphy is tied for second place among the 72-golfer field, just one stroke behind the individual leader.

After firing an even-par 72 in round one, Tennessee's highest score of the round, Chase Kyes picked up the pace on his second 18 of the day. The freshman tallied a 3-under-par 68 in round two, Tennessee's low score in the afternoon round. Similarly to Murphy, Kyes used a strong back nine, going 3-under-par on the stretch, to improve to 3-under-par overall. Kyes is tied for 13^th place entering Tuesday's final round.

Lance Simpson returned to form in his opening round of the day, recording a 3-under-par 68, consisting of five birdies and just two bogeys. In round two, the redshirt senior earned Tennessee's final countable score with a 1-over-par 72. At 2-under-par through two rounds, Simpson is tied for 20^th place ahead of round three on Tuesday.

Luke Smith posted two consecutive rounds of par or better on Monday for a strong start to the tournament. The freshman from Toronto shot a 1-under-par 70 in round one, followed by an even-par 71 in round two. Smith totaled ten birdies on the day to help offset a triple bogey in round one and a double bogey in round two. One stroke behind Simpson, Smith is tied for 22^nd place at 1-under-par.

Josh Hill matched Tennessee's final countable score in round one with a 1-under-par 70, going 3-under-par on his final 12 holes of the round. The senior couldn't carry the momentum into round two as he fired a 2-over-par 73, falling to 1-over-par overall. Hill is tied for 33^rd place with one round remaining.

Tennessee will wrap up the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial on Tuesday at Birdwood Golf Course. Round three tee times are set to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday morning.

Lewis Chitengwa Memorial Results (Round Two)
1. Virginia (-22)
2. SMU (-18)
T-3. Tennessee (-16)
T-3. Florida State (-16)
T-5. NC State (-7)
T-5. Maryland (-7)
7. Charlotte (-4)
8. Texas State (+4)
9. Liberty (+6)
10. Virginia Tech (+11)
11. Toledo (+16)
12. Loyola Maryland (+18)

Tennessee Results (Round Two)
T-2. Bruce Murphy: 64-69 = 133 (-9)
T-13. Chase Kyes: 71-68 = 139 (-3)
T-20. Lance Simpson: 68-72 = 140 (-2)
T-22. Luke Smith: 70-71 = 141 (-1)
T-33. Josh Hill: 70-73 = 143 (+1)