University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Host 2004 Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions
October 15, 2004 | Men's Golf
Oct. 15, 2004
The ninth-ranked Tennessee men's golf team returns to Knoxville to host the 17th annual Coca-Cola Tournament of Champions, Oct. 18-19. The tournament is once again being held at Holston Hills Country Club.
The Vols are looking for their first tournament championship since winning in 2001 when the tournament was at Cherokee Country Club. Tennessee also took top honors in 1992. Three former champions are also making return trips this year. East Tennessee State won back-to-back tournament titles in 1995 and 1996 while Alabama won in 1993 and Vanderbilt claimed top honors in 2003.
Six teams are also returning in search of their first Tournament of Champions crown. Those teams include No. 19 Georgia Southern, Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisville, Pepperdine, South Alabama, Tulane and Virginia. Alabama Birmingham and Austin Peay are set to make their first appearance.
Five teams competing participated in post season play last year with Alabama Birmingham, Georgia Southern, Tennessee and Vanderbilt competing in the East Region and Pepperdine competing in the West. Vanderbilt and Pepperdine extended their seasons with top 10 finishes and advancing to the NCAA Championships
An international flavor will once again be present as the Swedish Junior National Team returns after competing last year, while the Royal Canadian Golf Association will send a team for the first time.
Head coach Jim Kelson looks forward to the tournament and feels the course will provide a great challenge for the participants.
"Once again we're looking forward to hosting our collegiate event at the outstanding Holston Hills Country Club," Kelson said. "The golf course is as usual in fabulous condition. I think the contestants will thoroughly enjoy the golf course."
Leading the way for the Big Orange in the No. 1 position is senior David Skinns. Through two tournaments, Skinns has recorded two top 10 finishes, tying for 10th at the Bank of Tennessee/Ridges Intercollegiate and seventh at the Gary Koch/Cleveland Golf Intercollegiate. He leads the team in stroke average with a 72.17.
Junior Lloyd Campbell is set to compete in the second position with a scoring average of 73.00. Campbell's highest finish so far this year was a tie for 10th at the Bank of Tennessee/Ridges Intercollegiate. Freshman Charlie Ford competes in the three spot. He recently competed in his first tournament as a Vol at the Gary Koch/Cleveland Golf Intercollegiate, finishing tied for 19th. He has a scoring average of 74.00.
Rounding out the Tennessee competitors are freshman Philip Pettitt and senior John Scott Rattan in the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Pettitt burst onto the collegiate scene with an individual title at the Bank of Tennessee/Ridges Intercollegiate and is second on the team in scoring average with a 72.50. Rattan also played well at the The Ridges, finishing tied for 10th and has a scoring average of 74.50.
"I've been very pleased with our team's overall play, approach and attitude this season," Kelson said. "This group is the most focused, dedicated and enjoyable team I've worked with since coming to Tennessee. The fact that they have worked hard makes me very optimistic about this tournament and the rest of the year."
Last season the Vols fielded two squads for the tournament, with the Orange team finishing third behind Vanderbilt and the Swedish National Team and the White team finishing ninth. Brandon Skeen led both UT squads with a fifth place finish.
The tournament is free and open to the public. It is a 54-hole format with 36 holes played on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.
Players Mentioned
