University of Tennessee Athletics
Tuesday, September 1
Knoxville, Tenn.
University of Tennessee
vs
Visit Knoxville Collegiate - Round 3
Vols Use Dominant Third Round to Open Season with Victory at Visit Knoxville Collegiate
September 01, 2026 | Men's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee men's golf team began the 2026-27 season on a winning note, claiming first place in the Visit Knoxville Collegiate on Tuesday at Fox Den Country Club.
The Vols entered the day trailing the top spot by six strokes, but an impressive 14-under-par performance in round three saw Tennessee complete the comeback. It took Tennessee just nine holes to claim pole position on Tuesday, as the Vols made the turn with the lead after a 12-under-par front-nine as a team.
In the end, Tennessee closed the Visit Knoxville Collegiate four strokes ahead of runner-up Memphis, who finished at 11-under-par, and six strokes ahead of Chattanooga and North Carolina, who each tied for third place at 9-under-par.
Similar to rounds one and two on Monday, Nebraska transfer Rudy Sautron led the charge for the Vols in round three. The senior fired a 7-under-par 63 on Tuesday, the lowest round by any player in the field of 96 the entire tournament, to close his Tennessee debut at 9-under-par. He nearly claimed individual medalist honors, finishing just one stroke behind Chattanooga's Evan Rogers, who carded a 10-under-par 54-hole score.
Jackson Herrington also recorded a top-10 finish to open the season for Tennessee. The junior carded his best round of the event on Tuesday, a 4-under-par 66 featuring five birdies and just one bogey. At 4-under-par overall, Herrington tied for seventh place to earn his fourth career top-10 finish.
Another Vol who concluded an impressive debut on Tuesday was Pennson Badgett. The freshman tallied his third consecutive round of par or better and best round of the week with a 2-under-par 68 in round three. With a final 54-hole score of 3-under-par, Badgett tied for 13th place to begin his collegiate career.
Christian Pardue rounded out the team scoring for Tennessee in round three with his best round of the tournament. The junior carded a 1-under-par 69 on Tuesday in a round that included five birdies. The positive finish saw him climb to 3-over-par overall and a tie for 46th place to conclude the Visit Knoxville Collegiate.
Tennessee will have a short turnaround, as the team returns to action Sunday, Sept. 13, at the prestigious Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio.
Visit Knoxville Collegiate Results (Final)
1. Tennessee (-15)
2. Memphis (-11)
T-3. Chattanooga (-9)
T-3. North Carolina (-9)
5. Vanderbilt (-8)
T-6. Georgia (-6)
T-6. Mississippi State (-6)
T-8. Toledo (-5)
T-8. Missouri (-5)
10. Liberty (-1)
11. Charlotte (E)
12. South Carolina (+2)
13. Virginia Tech (+5)
14. NC State (+6)
15. Kentucky (+12)
T-16. Indiana (+14)
T-16. Louisville (+14)
Tennessee Results (Final)
2. Rudy Sautron: 69-69-63 = 201 (-9)
T-7. Jackson Herrington: 71-69-66 = 206 (-4)
T-13. Pennson Badgett: 69-70-68 = 207 (-3)
T-46. Christian Pardue: 70-74-69 = 213 (+3)
T-62. Chase Kyes: 69-75-71 = 215 (+5)
T-62. Bruce Murphy (i): 71-72-72 = 215 (+5)
T-88. Luke Smith (i): 77-73-73 = 223 (+13)
The Vols entered the day trailing the top spot by six strokes, but an impressive 14-under-par performance in round three saw Tennessee complete the comeback. It took Tennessee just nine holes to claim pole position on Tuesday, as the Vols made the turn with the lead after a 12-under-par front-nine as a team.
In the end, Tennessee closed the Visit Knoxville Collegiate four strokes ahead of runner-up Memphis, who finished at 11-under-par, and six strokes ahead of Chattanooga and North Carolina, who each tied for third place at 9-under-par.
Similar to rounds one and two on Monday, Nebraska transfer Rudy Sautron led the charge for the Vols in round three. The senior fired a 7-under-par 63 on Tuesday, the lowest round by any player in the field of 96 the entire tournament, to close his Tennessee debut at 9-under-par. He nearly claimed individual medalist honors, finishing just one stroke behind Chattanooga's Evan Rogers, who carded a 10-under-par 54-hole score.
Jackson Herrington also recorded a top-10 finish to open the season for Tennessee. The junior carded his best round of the event on Tuesday, a 4-under-par 66 featuring five birdies and just one bogey. At 4-under-par overall, Herrington tied for seventh place to earn his fourth career top-10 finish.
Another Vol who concluded an impressive debut on Tuesday was Pennson Badgett. The freshman tallied his third consecutive round of par or better and best round of the week with a 2-under-par 68 in round three. With a final 54-hole score of 3-under-par, Badgett tied for 13th place to begin his collegiate career.
Christian Pardue rounded out the team scoring for Tennessee in round three with his best round of the tournament. The junior carded a 1-under-par 69 on Tuesday in a round that included five birdies. The positive finish saw him climb to 3-over-par overall and a tie for 46th place to conclude the Visit Knoxville Collegiate.
Tennessee will have a short turnaround, as the team returns to action Sunday, Sept. 13, at the prestigious Inverness Intercollegiate in Toledo, Ohio.
Visit Knoxville Collegiate Results (Final)
1. Tennessee (-15)
2. Memphis (-11)
T-3. Chattanooga (-9)
T-3. North Carolina (-9)
5. Vanderbilt (-8)
T-6. Georgia (-6)
T-6. Mississippi State (-6)
T-8. Toledo (-5)
T-8. Missouri (-5)
10. Liberty (-1)
11. Charlotte (E)
12. South Carolina (+2)
13. Virginia Tech (+5)
14. NC State (+6)
15. Kentucky (+12)
T-16. Indiana (+14)
T-16. Louisville (+14)
Tennessee Results (Final)
2. Rudy Sautron: 69-69-63 = 201 (-9)
T-7. Jackson Herrington: 71-69-66 = 206 (-4)
T-13. Pennson Badgett: 69-70-68 = 207 (-3)
T-46. Christian Pardue: 70-74-69 = 213 (+3)
T-62. Chase Kyes: 69-75-71 = 215 (+5)
T-62. Bruce Murphy (i): 71-72-72 = 215 (+5)
T-88. Luke Smith (i): 77-73-73 = 223 (+13)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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