Wingardh Hot but Vols Falter Late

Sunday, February 27

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

All Day

University of Tennessee

John Hayt Collegiate Invitational

February 27, 2011 | Men's Golf

Feb. 27, 2011

Tennessee's Robin Wingardh played himself to within one stroke of the individual lead Sunday at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational, a sparking 4-under-par 68 good enough to join a five-way tie for second after 18 holes.

But Wingardh's play didn't carry over to his teammates, at least not down the stretch at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The Vols led for portions of the opening nine but combined to score 5 over par on the back side and settled into a tie for seventh place at 1-over 289.

Auburn and TCU fired matching 282s and lead the 15-team field with two rounds remaining. Those teams along with LSU (284), Arkansas (285), Florida (286) and Coastal Carolina (287) all are within striking distance for the Vols.

Wingardh, who closed with a 68 at this month's Battle at the Beach, has posted that number in three of last six competitive rounds dating to the second day at October's Isleworth Collegiate Invitational. The senior captain birdied the fourth, eighth, 11th, 14th and 16th holes before suffering his only blemish, a bogey at the par-4 17th.

Nine of Wingardh's 16 rounds this season have been par or better.

Jay Vandeventer continued his strong play since the break with an even-par 72, followed by Garrick Porteous at 74 and Danny Keddie at 75 to close out the scoring. Darren Renwick shot 76 and freshman Brandon Rodgers, competing as an individual in this tournament, opened with 73.

Vandeventer matched Wingardh's five birdies only to card five bogeys as well. The Bristol sophomore had four of his birdies during a seven-hole stretch between Nos. 4-10, reaching 2 under par. He closed with a birdie at the 18th and is tied for 24th place.

Wingardh and Vandeventer lead the Vols with stroke averages of 71.25 for the four rounds played thus far this spring.

Porteous was at 1 under par through eight holes before registering three of his four bogeys. The junior from Morpeth, England, had two birdies during his 2-over-par round and is tied for 41st place.

Keddie birdied the par-4 13th hole to go to 2 under par. The freshman birdied the first and then reeled off 11 straight pars, only to play his last five holes in 5 over. Keddie sits in a tie for 49th place.

Renwick rallied from bogeys on his first three holes to level his round with birdies at Nos. 5, 6 and 8. Still just 1 over par through 15 holes, the junior suffered a triple-bogey at the par-4 16th and is tied for 61st place.

Rodgers began play on the back nine and recorded five birdies against four bogeys, along with a double at the par-4 second hole. He is tied for 33rd place overall and stands second among the 10 players competing this week as individuals.

The Vols resume play Monday at 8 a.m. Eastern time on the No. 1 tee, joining Central Florida and Tulsa. Early Jacksonville-area temperatures in the mid-60s should reach the 80s by afternoon, under sunny skies. Winds will be noticeable at 18 mph.

Live scoring is available on UTsports.com, via Golfstat.com.

TEAM SCORES
T-1.	Auburn	282 (-6)
T-1.	TCU	282 (-6)
3.	LSU	284 (-4)
4.	Arkansas	285 (-3)
5.	Florida	286 (-2)
6.	Coastal Carolina	287 (-1)
T-7.	TENNESSEE	289 (+1)
T-7.	Central Florida	289 (+1)
9.	Tulsa	290 (+2)
T-10.	Georgia Southern	292 (+4)
T-10.	North Florida	292 (+4)
12.	Mississippi	293 (+5)
13.	Mercer	294 (+6)
14.	UAB	297 (+9)
15.	Jacksonville	307 (+19)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1.	John Peterson, LSU	67 (-5)
T-2.	Robin Wingardh, TENNESSEE	68 (-4)
T-2.	Connor Arendell, Central Florida	68 (-4)
T-2.	Blayne Barber, Auburn	68 (-4)
T-2.	Phillip Choi, Florida	68 (-4)
T-2.	Thomas Sutton, UAB	68 (-4)
UT SCORES
T-2.	Robin Wingardh	68 (-4)
T-24.	Jay Vandeventer	72 (E)
T-33.	Brandon Rodgers *	73 (+1)
T-41.	Garrick Porteous	74 (+2)
T-49.	Danny Keddie	75 (+3)
T-61.	Darren Renwick	76 (+4)
*Competing as individual.