By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
OLD HICKORY, Tenn. – For the second straight tournament, freshman Dax Isbell finished with the best score on the University of Tennessee at Martin golf squad as the Skyhawks completed the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate today.
UT Martin carded a 289 (+5) on the Hermitage Golf Course President’s Reserve during this morning’s third round, finishing the tournament in sixth place with an overall score of 854 (+2).
Isbell, who led the Skyhawks with a 12th-place performance at the Ernie Denham Classic last week, once again accounted for the best tally this week. The Cumming, Ga. native sank three birdies and shot a 73 with three birdies today to round out his tournament with a 212 (-1). He duplicated his career-best finish by placing 12th in the field of 90 participants, leading the entire tournament in par-5 scoring (4.44, -5) while topping UT Martin in par-4 scoring (3.97, -1).
Garrett Chumley was responsible for the best Skyhawk score today as the sophomore out of Murfreesboro, Tenn. managed a season-best 69 (-2). Cayden Chambers equaled Isbell with a 73 while Ethan Ray rolled in five birdie putts on the way to a 74. Luke Caldwell’s 75 on the scorecard included three birdies.
Overall, Chambers followed Isbell with a 214 (+1) for the tournament which placed him in the top-25 of the individual standings. The sophomore from Waverly, Tenn. ranked fifth in the tournament in both par-3 scoring (2.92, -1) and pars (41).
Caldwell wrapped up the event with a 216 (+3) while Ray and Chumley collected identical 218’s (+5). Ray ended the tournament with the fifth-most birdies (11) in the field.
Competing as an individual, Jackson Twerdahl tallied a 75 in Round 3, bringing his cumulative score to 224 (+11) for the 54-hole event.
“Today was an opportunity for a lot of these guys to see what it’s like to be in the lineup with a chance to win,” UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. “We didn’t have our best stuff but it’s a round that will make us better in the long run. A lot of teams played well and took advantage of the favorable conditions and we simply didn’t so you have to give them credit.”
The Skyhawks conclude the 2022-23 regular season next week when they travel to Bridgeport, W.Va. for the Mountaineer Invitational. The event is hosted by West Virginia and will take place on April 17-18.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information