By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MADISON, Ill. – The top spots on both the team and individual leaderboards at the Derek Dolenc Invitational belonged to the University of Tennessee at Martin as tournament winner Garrett Chumley guided the Skyhawk golf squad to their first victory of the young 2021-22 campaign.
UT Martin won the 14-team event by a whopping 12 strokes, ending the 54-hole tournament with a score of 855 (+3). The Skyhawks shot a 289 (+5) in Round 3 and topped the event in two different categories (175 pars, 4.13 par-4 scoring average) on the way to their sixth tournament victory over the last two seasons.
“I am beyond proud of our team this week,” UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. “They gave 100 percent effort each round and we had to have it. I was extremely pleased with how we handled ourselves when things didn’t go our way and how we responded to that this week.”
Entering the day with a two-shot advantage for medalist honors, Garrett Chumley dialed up a team-best five birdies against just two bogeys on his way to a 68 (-3) today. His cumulative score of 205 (-8) was three strokes better than runner-up Brady Bennett from New Orleans as only six players shot under par for the tournament. Chumley ranked first in the field in par-4 scoring (3.85, -4) while leading all Skyhawks in par-3 scoring (2.93, -1), pars (40, second-most in the tournament) and birdies (11).
“That was an outstanding and impressive performance by Garrett,” Swafford said. “He led the way for us and putted extremely well in each round. It’s a special day for him as this is only his second collegiate tournament. I am very happy for him and all of the hard work he has put in.”
Tate Chumley managed four birdies on his way to a 73 during today’s final round while Jonathan Xoinis and Jacob Uehlein each tapped in two birdies on their way to countable scores of 74. Bryson Morrell was UT Martin’s fifth member of the scoring lineup as he compiled two birdies on the way to a 79.
Competing as an individual, Cayden Chambers shot even-par over his final eight holes – accounting for two birdies before posting a final score of 75.
All in all, Tate Chumley and Xoinis gave the Skyhawks a trio of top-20 finishers as those two tied for 17th place with a final tally of 220 (+7). Xoinis paced UT Martin and ranked fourth in the tournament in par-5 scoring (4.58, -5).
Chambers and Morrell tied for 30th place in the individual standings with a 223 (+10). Uehlein ranked 38th in the 90-man field with a final score of 225 (+12).
UT Martin returns to action on Oct. 4-5 when it hosts the Grover Page Classic at the Jackson Country Club in Jackson, Tenn.
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information