01 - Golf - Season Preview

Season Preview

Interview with Head Coach Jim Kelson About the new Mack & Jonnie Day Golf Practice Facility

“The facility turned out fabulous. It’s everything we wanted it to be. I can’t say enough about the job Mark Gossett, Jeff Wolfenbarger and Nick Farragut have done out there. Those guys have gone above and beyond in every way possible to make that facility as good as it could be, and they are the ones who deserve an enormous amount of credit for its shape and conditioning.

“Obviously, we want to thank Mack and Jonnie Day of Palm City, Fla., for their tremendous generosity. We could not have begun construction without their amazing support. And there were many other boosters and donors who contributed significantly to this project. On behalf of all our student-athletes and the men’s and women’s coaching staffs here at the University of Tennessee, we wanted to say how much all their generosity has meant – not only to this facility but to our programs in general.”

About any pleasant surprises after the team’s initial time spent at the new facility

“I think the holes turned out to be a little bit more challenging than we thought. I think the greens on the three holes are probably a little bigger than we envisioned. We are using the three holes more extensively than we thought we would in terms of preparation, planning and practice – hitting shots into them – versus just playing the three holes. So those three practice holes were icing on the cake as far as the facility and have really turned out to be beneficial.

“This facility is as big and expansive as any I’ve seen in collegiate golf. We really pride ourselves on teaching and developing players, and once we get our clubhouse constructed there will be two state-of-the-art video rooms where we will be able to enhance our instruction to an even higher level.”

About your coaching staff of Casey VanDamme and Randy Wylie

2010-2011

“We couldn’t have two more qualified people. Those guys are so bright and so knowledgeable in the game of golf. We are really fortunate to have Casey and Randy on our staff. I don’t see how you could get better than those two. Their skill level and instruction is phenomenal.

“They’ve been a tremendous asset to our program with their attitudes, their personalities and the way they go about their work in a very professional manner. It’s something that is a strength of our program. Our players are very fortunate to be able to learn and develop their games under two guys like that.”

About senior captain Robin Wingardh

“I’ve been as proud of Robin as any player I’ve ever coached, and not only from a development standpoint. From where he came as a freshman to where he is now, he’s made strides in his game but most importantly in his maturity and responsibility levels. He’s our team captain this year and has taken that job very seriously. It’s just been tremendous to see the growth of the young man, and his golf game has flourished.

4 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf

HEAD COACH JIM KELSON has coached the Vols to 11 straight NCAA tournament bids, including five trips to the NCAA finals.

All credit to him as a result of a lot of hard work. He’s had to work very hard at developing traits and he’s one of those who really took advantage of everything that is offered here at the University of Tennessee. He’s a shining example of what can happen when somebody takes advantage of all the positive things we have to offer here.”

About juniors Garrick Porteous and Darren Renwick

“Both of those two men are coming along and rounding into really fine players. They have worked very hard this year toward developing their games and they are doing a really nice job for us. We look forward to them continuing to grow and develop and expect to see a lot of good golf from those two for the next year and a half.”

About sophomore Jay Vandeventer

“Jay is getting closer to fulfilling his potential. His short game is coming along and he’s worked at that. He’s always been a great ball-striker. Continuing to refine his approach and perspective is something that is going to pay him and our program huge dividends in the future.”

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT RANDy WyLIE was named Tennessee’s PGA Section Teacher of the Year for 2010.

Fall Season Recap tennessee

Carpet Capital Collegiate

Rocky Face, Ga. (Sept. 10-12) 294-288-298--880

revIew

SOPHOMORE JAy VANDEVENTER finished 14th at the Windon Memorial for his best collegiate showing. of the gate at North Shore Country Club near Chicago. UT shot 13-over-par 297 to finish at 888, or 36 over par.

Through the opening four holes, Tennessee already stood 10 over par -- and that was counting only the four best scores out of five players. The Vols never recovered and posted their worst regular season finish in six years.

Michigan claimed both the individual and team trophies.

The Wolverines (854) shot 2-under 282 Monday to finish as wire-to-wire champions and hold off a hard-charging Ohio State (855) squad that shot 9 under for the day and finished one stroke back. Michigan’s Lion Kim (207) also led from start to finish, closing with a 4-under 67 that left him two strokes clear of Ohio State’s Bo Hoag (209).

California (856) and Tulsa (862) were next in the team competition, followed by a tie for fifth between Indiana (868) and Purdue (868).

Vandeventer, who was 4 over par himself at that early fourhole juncture, settled down to shoot a closing 2-over 73 that left him at 3-over-par 216 for the tournament. Vandeventer turned in Tennessee’s best back-nine score on Monday, firing a 35 on eight pars to go with a single birdie at the par-5 15th hole.

The Bristol sophomore’s best previous UT showing was a tie for 22nd at last year’s SEC Championships.

Robin Wingardh entered Monday’s play just two strokes out of the individual lead, but consecutive double bogeys at the second and third holes doomed his chances. The senior captain played even par the rest of the way to shoot 75 and tie for 19th place at 4-over-par 217.

Darren Renwick continued his recovery from an openinground 86 to close with a 72 on the heels of his 73 in Sunday afternoon’s second round. The England junior carded 15 pars, one birdie and just two bogeys. Renwick climbed seven positions to tie for 76th place at 18-over-par 231.

Brandon Rodgers shot 77 to round out the Tennessee scor-

ing. The freshman from Farragut actually was leading the way for UT at even par through four holes before stumbling with a stretch of 4-over through the next four. Rodgers finished in 85th place at 24-over-par 237.

Justin Walker closed with a 79 to finish in a tie for 78th at 20-over 233.

The last time Tennessee finished this poorly in a regular season event was Nov. 5-7, 2004, at the Carpet Capital Collegiate, where UT placed 15th out of 18 entries. But that squad rallied in the spring to finish fifth at the 2005 SEC Championships, second at the NCAA East Regional and 11th at the NCAA Championships in Owings Mills, Md.

hIstory

Fourteenth was Tennessee’s number Monday at the Windon Memorial Classic in Glenview, Ill. Good or bad, it just depended on the point of view.

It was good for Jay Vandeventer, who battled back from a tough opening four holes to tie for 14th place and lead Tennessee’s final-round effort. The finish was Vandeventer’s best as a collegiate golfer.

The same couldn’t be said for the Vols as a team. UT slumped five spots to 14th place after struggling mightily out

volunteers

Glencoe, Ill. (Sept. 26-27) 303-288-297--888

CoaChes

Windon Memorial Golf Classic

PrevIew

Tennessee finished right where it started Sunday at the Carpet Capital Collegiate in Rocky Face, Ga., tying for eighth place to open the 2010-11 men’s golf season.

The Vols shot 10-over-par 298 in their third round to close at 16-over 880 and deadlocked with Chattanooga, which shot 305 on the final afternoon.

Alabama (856) rallied Sunday to win the tournament ahead of Wake Forest (860), which had the day’s best score at 1-under 287, Georgia Tech (862) and second-round leader Clemson (862). The Tigers slumped to a closing 8-over-par 296. Auburn was alone in fifth at 3-over 867.

Brandon Rodgers paced the Vols in the final round with his second consecutive 1-under-par 71. The Farragut freshman, starting at the 10th hole, birdied twice over his first nine holes against a lone double bogey at the par-3 13th. Rodgers then added birdies at Nos. 2 and 6 to offset a dropped shot at the difficult par-3 eighth, a hole he played 4 over for the tournament.

Rodgers finished his collegiate debut at 6-over-par 222 and tied for 30th, quite the jump from his 54th-place standing after Friday’s round.

Darren Renwick shot 74, matching five birdies with five bogeys and then a double bogey to account for the 2-over-par result. The junior had three pars over his first nine holes and two on the second nine to climb eight spots into a tie for 43rd at 11-over 227.

Robin Wingardh double bogeyed that pesky eighth hole to finish with a 75. The senior captain made the turn at 2 over before birdieing the par-3 fifth hole to give him a shot at even par. His tournament score of 1-over 217 was good for a 15thplace tie.

Jay Vandeventer fell to a 78 Sunday and was part of the group with Rodgers in 30th place at 6-over 222. The Bristol sophomore opened with his lone birdie of the afternoon at the par-4 10th hole, but finished 3 over par on each nine.

Garrick Porteous closed with an 80 to join Renwick in a tie for 43rd at 11-over 227. The England junior never could find his rhythm, birdieing only the par-4 18th hole against four bogeys on the front and five on the back.

Medalist honors went to Wake Forest’s Lee Bedford, who closed with a 68 to finish at 10-under-par 206 and edge teammate Evan Beck (208) by two strokes.

Intro

Vols Compete in Four Fall Tournaments

Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Jonesborough (Oct. 15-17) 299-290-284--873

Tennessee’s best round of the year led to its best finish of the year, a tie for fifth Sunday at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in Jonesborough.

The Vols placed three of their four scoring golfers in red figures, led by Darren Renwick’s 69. The junior from Worthing, England, finished at 5-under-par 211 to tie for fourth -- his second top-five showing in as many seasons at The Ridges Golf and Country Club.

“It’s quickly turning into one of my favorite courses,” Renwick said. “Like I said Friday, I feel at home in the sloping conditions with the ball above my feet and the ball below my feet. It’s like that here on pretty much every iron shot and I like inventing the different shots the way I do back home.”

In six career rounds at The Ridges, Renwick owns an overall scoring average of 70.67. Only one of those six rounds, the very first one, was over par.

“Today, I made a couple of putts,” he said. “Starting the Tennessee Volunteers Golf • 5

back nine, I made three birdies by draining a couple of long putts and it kept me on the right track. Other than that, I played pretty much exactly the same every day. I had my holes to attack and try to make birdies there, but on the other holes I made pars and was happy with that.”

Sunday, Renwick had two birdies on the front nine and the three to start the back at Nos. 10, 12 and 13. He finished the weekend with 13 birdies against eight bogeys.

Virginia stormed from behind to claim the team trophy.

The Cavaliers, coached by former Vols assistant Bowen Sargent, combined for their second straight 10-under-par 278 to finish at 853. First- and second-day leader Kent State was next at 857, followed by Chattanooga at 864 and Wake Forest at 867. Michigan tied Tennessee for fifth place at 873.

Kent State’s Mackenzie Hughes captured medalist honors by seven strokes, shooting 65 Sunday to finish at 13-under 203.

Robin Wingardh also completed another excellent tournament for the Vols, tying for 12th to capture his third top-20 result in as many events to begin his senior season. The team captain carded his first eagle of the fall Sunday at the par-5 eighth hole. Wingardh added three birdies against four bogeys to finish at 1-under-par 215.

Garrick Porteous scored his best round of the season, a 69 that improved his finish by 18 spots over the start of Sunday’s play. Porteous overcame a bogey at the second hole to card a pair of birdies on each nine and tie for 30th place at 5-overpar 221.

Max Smith completed the UT scoring with a 75. The freshman’s two birdies Sunday came on the front-side par 5s, and Smith finished his first collegiate competition all alone in 52nd place at 10-over-par 226.

Marshall Talkington, playing as an individual, shot a thirdround 78 to finish in a tie for 72nd place at 22-over 238. Jay Vandeventer closed with an 81 to finish 74th at 25-over-par 241.

Wingardh shot 75 and finished at 2-under 214. He made 15 birdies against eight bogeys for the tournament, in addition to the two Tuesday blemishes at Nos. 4 and 5. The second-place showing was his best since tying for medalist honors at the 2008 Ping/Golfweek Preview.

Tennessee completed its fall season by dropping one position in the team standings to a tie for 11th place, closing with a 17-over-par 305 for a three-day total of 44-over 908.

Fifth-ranked Alabama (884) won by two strokes over No. 9 LSU (886), with third-ranked Florida (894), Stanford (894), second-ranked Oklahoma State (895) and TCU (895) close behind. This year’s field at Isleworth Golf and Country Club included five teams rated by Golfweek/Sagarin in the top 10 and seven in the top 20.

Freshman Max Smith helped Tennessee’s cause with his best round of the tournament, a 74 that bumped his finish to a tie for 37th place at 13-over 229. Smith improved in every round (79-76-74) and shot 1-over 37 in each of his last three

nines.

Garrick Porteous tied Smith’s tournament score of 229 after shooting his second round of 76. The junior began Tuesday’s play with double-bogeys on two of his first three holes, but rallied to play even par over his last 15.

Darren Renwick was just 1 over par through 10 but lost seven strokes over his final eight holes to shoot 80. The junior, who finished fourth last weekend at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, had three rounds this fall in the 80s and finished Isleworth in a tie for 61st at 22-over 238.

Freshman Brandon Rodgers carded his second 86 in three days and finished in 74th place at 31-over 247.

Tennessee resumes play Valentine’s weekend, returning to Battle at the Beach in Newport Coast, Calif., on Feb. 13-15.

It is the first of five spring tournaments leading into the SEC Men’s Golf Championship, set for April 15-17 at St. Simons Island, Ga.

Isleworth Collegiate Invitational

2010-2011

Windermere, Fla. 288-282-291--861

Robin Wingardh couldn’t hold off a charging Bank Vongvanij of Florida and the Tennessee senior finished second at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational in Windermere, Fla. Tuesday’s final round saw Wingardh carrying a four-stroke lead with just six holes to play. He was 2 under for the day and 7 under for the tournament before carding 7-5-5 -- triplebogey, double-bogey, bogey -- over the middle three holes of his second nine. Vongvanij took advantage by shooting the best round of the day, 68, for a winning total of 4-under-par ROBIN WINGARDH finished second at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational. The senior’s second-round 68 pushed him into the 212. lead and was his low score for the fall.

2010-11 Roster

Name Danny Keddie Garrick Porteous Darren Renwick Brandon Rodgers Max Smith Marshall Talkington Jay Vandeventer Justin Walker Robin Wingardh (Capt.)

Class Freshman Junior Junior Freshman Freshman Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

6 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf

Ht. 5-10 6-1 6-2 5-9 6-3 5-9 6-3 5-11 5-9

Wt. 172 182 190 165 205 165 200 170 165

Hometown Lincoln, England Morpeth, England Worthing, England Farragut Berkshire, England Jackson Bristol Greenbrier Morarp, Sweden

Previous School Robert Pattison School King Edward VI School Our Lady of Sion School Farragut High School Millfield School University School of Jackson The Baylor School (Chattanooga) Goodpasture High School Ronnoskwa Skolan

Fall Statistics Intro tennessee PrevIew CoaChes volunteers

GARRICK PORTEOUS was second on the team during fall play with a 75.22 stroke average. His best finish was 30th at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate. revIew

Final Fall 2010 Statistics Rounds 12 9 9 12 6 3 9 3 4 events (12 rounds)

Key CCC Carpet Capital Collegiate WMC Windon Memorial Golf Classic

Strokes 863 677 679 907 455 233 706 238 3,549

Low Round 68 ISL 69 BTI 69 WM 69 BTI 73 BTI 75 WM 71 CCC 78 BTI 2x 284 BTI

Avg. 71.92 75.22 75.44 75.58 75.83 77.67 78.44 79.33 295.75

High Round 75 3x 80 CCC 83 BTI 86 WM 79 ISL 79 WM 2x 86 ISL 2x 82 BTI 309 ISL

Rounds Par or Better 7 2 2 3 0 0 2 0 2

Best 54Hole Score 206 CCC 221 BTI 216 WM 211 BTI 226 BTI 233 WM 222 CCC 238 BTI 873 BTI

Top 10 Finishes 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2

Best Finish 2nd ISL 30th-t BTI 14th-t WM 4th-t BTI 37th-t ISL 78th-t WM 30th-t CCC 72nd-t BTI 5th-t BTI

hIstory

Player Robin Wingardh Garrick Porteous Jay Vandeventer Darren Renwick Max Smith Justin Walker Brandon Rodgers Marshall Talkington Team Totals

BTI Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate ISL Isleworth Collegiate Invitational

Tournament Results • Carpet Capital Collegiate, Rocky Face, Ga., Sept. 10-12 • Windon Memorial Golf Classic, Glencoe, Ill., Sept. 26-27 • Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, Jonesborough, Oct. 15-17 • Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, Windermere, Fla., Oct. 24-26

294-288-298--880 303-288-297--888 299-290-284--873 309-294-305--908

8th-t of 12 14th of 17 5th-t of 14 11th-t of 15

Individual Results Garrick Porteous

Carpet Capital Collegiate 72-75-80--227 Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate 76-76-69--221 Isleworth Collegiate Inv. 76-77-76--229

Darren Renwick

Carpet Capital Collegiate Windon Memorial Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate Isleworth Collegiate Inv.

Brandon Rodgers Carpet Capital Collegiate

78-75-74--227 86-73-72--231 71-71-69--211 83-75-80--238 80-71-71--222

43rd-t 30th-t 37th-t 43rd-t 76th-t 4th-t 61st-t 30th-t

Windon Memorial Isleworth Collegiate Inv.

79-81-77--237 86-75-86--247

Max Smith

Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate 78-73-75--226 Isleworth Collegiate Inv. 79-76-74--229

Marshall Talkington

*Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate 78-82-78--238

Jay Vandeventer

Carpet Capital Collegiate 71-73-78--222 Windon Memorial 74-69-73--216 Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate 83-77-81--241

85th 74th 52nd 37th-t 72nd-t

Justin Walker Windon Memorial

Robin Wingardh

Carpet Capital Collegiate Windon Memorial Bank of Tenn. Intercollegiate Isleworth Collegiate Inv.

79-75-79--233

78th-t

73-69-75--217 71-71-75--217 74-70-71--215 71-68-75--214

15th-t 19th-t 12th-t 2nd

*Competed as individual

30th-t 14th-t 74th Tennessee Volunteers Golf • 7

2010-2011

SEC Opponents Alabama

Georgia

Mississippi State

Location Tuscaloosa, Ala. Founded 1831 Enrollment 28,806 Nickname Crimson Tide Colors Crimson and White Head Coach Jay Seawell Alma mater South Carolina ‘88 years at school 10th

Location Athens, Ga. Founded 1785 Enrollment 34,885 Nickname Bulldogs Colors Red and Black Head Coach Chris Haack Alma mater Mellen University ‘96 years at school 15th

Location Starkville, Miss.

Founded 1878 Enrollment 19,644 Nickname Bulldogs Colors Maroon and White Head Coach Clay Homan Alma mater Mississippi State ‘95 years at school Eighth

Golf contact Josh Maxson SID phone (205) 348-7496 SID e-mail jmaxson@ia.ua.edu Web site rolltide.com

Golf contact Steven Colquitt SID phone (706) 542-1621 SID e-mail scolquitt@sports.uga.edu Web site georgiadogs.com

Golf contact Jan Blaine SID phone (662) 312-2199 SID e-mail janblaine02@gmail.com Web site mstateathletics.com

Arkansas

Kentucky

South Carolina

Location Fayetteville, Ark. Founded 1871 Enrollment 21,406 Nickname Razorbacks Colors Cardinal and White Head Coach Brad McMakin Alma mater Oklahoma ‘91 years at school Fifth

Location Lexington, Ky. Founded 1865 Enrollment 27,000 Nickname Wildcats Colors Blue and White Head Coach Brian Craig Alma mater Florida ‘92 years at school 10th

Location Columbia, S.C. Founded 1801 Enrollment 28,481 Assistant Coach Gamecocks Colors Garnet and Black Head Coach Bill McDonald Alma mater Georgia Tech ‘89 years at school Fourth

Golf contact Phil Pierce SID phone (479) 575-7430 SID e-mail ppierce@uark.edu Web site arkansasrazorbacks.com

Golf contact Evan Crane SID phone (859) 257-3838 SID e-mail wesley.crane@uky.edu Web site ukathletics.com

Golf contact Wes Todd SID phone (803) 777-7872 SID e-mail wtodd@mailbox.sc.edu Web site gamecocksonline.com

Auburn

LSU

Vanderbilt

Location Auburn, Ala. Founded 1856 Enrollment 24,602 Nickname Tigers Colors Burnt Orange and Navy Head Coach Nick Clinard Alma mater Wake Forest ‘95 years at school Second

Location Baton Rouge, La. Founded 1860 Enrollment 28,771 Nickname Tigers Colors Purple and Gold Head Coach Chuck Winstead Alma mater LSU ‘91 years at school Sixth

Location Nashville Founded 1873 Enrollment 6,738 Nickname Commodores Colors Black and Gold Head Coach Tom Shaw Alma mater Georgia Tech ‘91 years at school Fifth

Golf contact Gary Thorne SID phone (334) 663-6650 SID e-mail thorngw@auburn.edu Web site auburntigers.com

Golf contact Will Stafford SID phone (225) 578-7947 SID e-mail wstaff2@lsu.edu Web site lsusports.net

Golf contact Andy Boggs SID phone (615) 322-4121 SID e-mail andy.boggs@vanderbilt.edu Web site vucommodores.cstv.com

Florida

Mississippi

Location Gainesville, Fla. Founded 1853 Enrollment 52,112 Nickname Gators Colors Orange and Blue Head Coach Buddy Alexander Alma mater Georgia Southern ‘75 years at school 24th

Location Oxford, Miss.

Founded 1848 Enrollment 19,536 Nickname Rebels Colors Cardinal and Navy Head Coach Ernest Ross Alma mater Mississippi ‘74 years at school 15th

Golf contact Susan Epps SID phone (352) 375-4683 SID e-mail susiee@gators.uaa.ufl.edu Web site gatorzone.com

Golf contact Kim Ling SID phone (662) 915-7522 SID e-mail kling@olemiss.edu Web site olemisssports.com

8 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf