University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, May 19
Bryan, Texas
University of Tennessee
vs
NCAA Regional - Rounds 2 & 3
Senior Duo Powers #16 Vols to Third Consecutive NCAA Championship Appearance
May 19, 2026 | Men's Golf
BRYAN, Texas – Never a doubt. The No. 16 Tennessee men's golf team mounted a large comeback on Tuesday at the Bryan Regional to secure the program's third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships.
With inclement weather expected on Wednesday, the final two rounds of the Bryan Regional were both played on Tuesday at the Traditions Club. Entering the day in fifth place, the Vols needed to maintain a top five position to clinch a berth to the NCAA Championships. Late in round two and early in round three, the comeback looked unlikely as Tennessee faced a double-digit stroke deficit behind fifth place.
Faced with the threat of the season coming to a close, the Vols responded. Key birdies down the stretch saw the team close round two with a 2-under-par 286. Still with work to do, Tennessee posted its best round of the week in round three, firing a 10-under-par 278 in round three to climb back to a fifth-place finish at 18-under-par. Ultimately, the Vols closed the tournament five strokes ahead of sixth placed TCU.
The key to the comeback for Tennessee was the play of their two seniors, Josh Hill and Lance Simpson, who both stepped up in a major way to extend their collegiate careers.
Hill was consistently great all week for the Vols, notching three consecutive rounds in the 60s to post Tennessee's best individual 54-hole score in an NCAA Regional in program history. Entering the day at 4-under-par after a solid opening round, Hill kept his foot on the gas by tying his career-best round with a 6-under-par 66 in round two. With the team still needing every stroke it could get, the Dubai, United Arab Emirates, native carded a 4-under-par 68 in round three.
With an overall score of 14-under-par, Hill earns a podium finish at the Bryan Regional, placing third among the field of 78. Additionally, Hill matches the fourth best 54-hole score in any tournament in program history.
Simpson approached round three with a similar mindset, finding a new gear to keep the Vols alive. The redshirt senior went 3-under-par over his final ten holes of the second round to carry momentum into the day's final 18. Simpson kept it going and then some in round three, posting a 5-under-par 67 to improve his final tally to 7-under-par and tie for 11th place.
After shooting a 2-over-par 74 in round two, Chase Kyes bounced back with an even-par 72 in the final round. At 2-over-par for the tournament, the freshman wrapped up his first NCAA Regional tied for 39th place.
In similar fashion, Bruce Murphy improved upon a 3-over-par 75 in round two with a 1-under-par 71 in the final round, proving crucial to Tennessee's comeback effort. The redshirt junior closed the Bryan Regional at 4-over-par to finish in 43rd place.
The No. 1 seed Texas claimed first place at the Bryan Regional, closing with an impressive mark of 45-under-par. Their arch-rival and site host Texas A&M concluded just behind the Longhorns in second place at 40-under-par. Chattanooga and North Carolina were the other two teams to punch tickets to Carlsbad, closing at 23-under-par and 19-under-par, respectively.
With the positive result, Tennessee will look ahead to the final tournament of the 2025-26 season. The NCAA Championships are set to be contested at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa's Champions Course in Carlsbad, California, from May 29 through June 3.
Bryan Regional Results (Final)
1. Texas (-45)
2. Texas A&M (-40)
3. Chattanooga (-23)
4. North Carolina (-19)
5. Tennessee (-18)
6. TCU (-13)
7. Colorado (-11)
8. UNLV (-2)
9. UNC Wilmington (E)
10. Cincinnati (+8)
11. New Mexico (+11)
12. UTRGV (+14)
13. Miami (OH) (+18)
14. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+73)
Tennessee Results (Final)
3. Josh Hill: 68-66-68 = 202 (-14)
T-11. Lance Simpson: 70-72-67 = 209 (-7)
T-39. Chase Kyes: 70-76-72 = 218 (+2)
43. Bruce Murphy: 74-75-71 = 220 (+4)
T-44. Jackson Herrington: 74-73-74 = 221 (+5)
With inclement weather expected on Wednesday, the final two rounds of the Bryan Regional were both played on Tuesday at the Traditions Club. Entering the day in fifth place, the Vols needed to maintain a top five position to clinch a berth to the NCAA Championships. Late in round two and early in round three, the comeback looked unlikely as Tennessee faced a double-digit stroke deficit behind fifth place.
Faced with the threat of the season coming to a close, the Vols responded. Key birdies down the stretch saw the team close round two with a 2-under-par 286. Still with work to do, Tennessee posted its best round of the week in round three, firing a 10-under-par 278 in round three to climb back to a fifth-place finish at 18-under-par. Ultimately, the Vols closed the tournament five strokes ahead of sixth placed TCU.
The key to the comeback for Tennessee was the play of their two seniors, Josh Hill and Lance Simpson, who both stepped up in a major way to extend their collegiate careers.
Hill was consistently great all week for the Vols, notching three consecutive rounds in the 60s to post Tennessee's best individual 54-hole score in an NCAA Regional in program history. Entering the day at 4-under-par after a solid opening round, Hill kept his foot on the gas by tying his career-best round with a 6-under-par 66 in round two. With the team still needing every stroke it could get, the Dubai, United Arab Emirates, native carded a 4-under-par 68 in round three.
With an overall score of 14-under-par, Hill earns a podium finish at the Bryan Regional, placing third among the field of 78. Additionally, Hill matches the fourth best 54-hole score in any tournament in program history.
Simpson approached round three with a similar mindset, finding a new gear to keep the Vols alive. The redshirt senior went 3-under-par over his final ten holes of the second round to carry momentum into the day's final 18. Simpson kept it going and then some in round three, posting a 5-under-par 67 to improve his final tally to 7-under-par and tie for 11th place.
After shooting a 2-over-par 74 in round two, Chase Kyes bounced back with an even-par 72 in the final round. At 2-over-par for the tournament, the freshman wrapped up his first NCAA Regional tied for 39th place.
In similar fashion, Bruce Murphy improved upon a 3-over-par 75 in round two with a 1-under-par 71 in the final round, proving crucial to Tennessee's comeback effort. The redshirt junior closed the Bryan Regional at 4-over-par to finish in 43rd place.
The No. 1 seed Texas claimed first place at the Bryan Regional, closing with an impressive mark of 45-under-par. Their arch-rival and site host Texas A&M concluded just behind the Longhorns in second place at 40-under-par. Chattanooga and North Carolina were the other two teams to punch tickets to Carlsbad, closing at 23-under-par and 19-under-par, respectively.
With the positive result, Tennessee will look ahead to the final tournament of the 2025-26 season. The NCAA Championships are set to be contested at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa's Champions Course in Carlsbad, California, from May 29 through June 3.
Bryan Regional Results (Final)
1. Texas (-45)
2. Texas A&M (-40)
3. Chattanooga (-23)
4. North Carolina (-19)
5. Tennessee (-18)
6. TCU (-13)
7. Colorado (-11)
8. UNLV (-2)
9. UNC Wilmington (E)
10. Cincinnati (+8)
11. New Mexico (+11)
12. UTRGV (+14)
13. Miami (OH) (+18)
14. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+73)
Tennessee Results (Final)
3. Josh Hill: 68-66-68 = 202 (-14)
T-11. Lance Simpson: 70-72-67 = 209 (-7)
T-39. Chase Kyes: 70-76-72 = 218 (+2)
43. Bruce Murphy: 74-75-71 = 220 (+4)
T-44. Jackson Herrington: 74-73-74 = 221 (+5)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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