University of Tennessee Athletics
Knoxville Natives Look to Excel
October 10, 2013 | Men's Golf
Oct. 10, 2013
The Tennessee men's golf team will return to a familiar location this weekend. The location has yielded much success and sits in the Big Orange footprint of the Great Smoky Mountains.
The Vols will tee off their third tournament of the season at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in "Tennessee's oldest town" of Jonesborough, Tenn.
Head coach Jim Kelson has found tremendous success at the Bank of Tennessee tournament. The Vols are a three-time tournament champion, winning team championships in 2004, 2006 and 2009.
Three former Vols have been crowned individual champion, beginning with Ian Parnaby in 2002, Philip Pettitt (2004) and Chris Paisley (2007). In addition, Paisley holds the tournament record for lowest single round total with a 64 (-8).
Last season, Tennessee finished runner-up at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate with a total score of 280-287-291--858 (-6). Rick Lamb led the Vols' lineup, finishing fourth with a 211 (-5).
Kelson and assistant coach Casey VanDamme will go with the starting five of Oliver Goss, Brandon Rodgers, Jack Smith, Marshall Talkington and Juan Carlos Serrano Guevara. Second-year golfer Chad Merzbacher will compete as an individual.
A third of the way through the season, the biggest surprise has been the emergence of Knoxville natives Rodgers and Smith. Rodgers, a graduate of Farragut, and Smith, a graduate of Webb, have been the perfect complements to U.S. Amateur runner-up Goss.
"I'm definitely looking forward to playing this weekend," Rodgers said. "This will be my first year to play in this tournament and I have a few friends and family coming to watch so it'll be fun to play in front of them and represent Tennessee."
At the Dick's Challenge Cup, the pair combined to play near flawless golf. Rodgers (-1) finished in 10th while Smith (E) placed 12th. Kelson hopes the law firm of Goss, Rodgers and Smith will carry the Volunteers to another Bank of Tennessee championship.
"It's been cool to be so close to home for the first three tournaments and to have all the support we've had," Smith said. "It's nice to come to a tournament where Coach Kelson has been so many times and has had such great success."
2013 Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Army, Coastal Carolina, ETSU, Furman, Kent State, Memphis, Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington
DATES
October 11-13, 2013
COURSE INFORMATION
Blackthorn Club at The Ridges - Jonesborough, Tenn. - Par 72 - 7,147 yards - Website
HOSTED BY
ETSU
BANK OF TENNESSEE RECORDS
LIVE SCORING
TENNESSEE'S TEE TIMES
On Friday and Saturday every team will tee off from No. 1, starting around 8:30a (last tee time roughly around 12:40). On Sunday, half the field will tee off from No. 1 at 8:30a, while the other half will go off from No. 10 at 9a.
Friday, Oct. 11 - First Round - 9:20 a.m. ET - Paired with Missouri and Virginia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 12 - Second Round - TBD
Sunday, Oct. 13 - Third Round - TBD
VOLS STARTING LINEUP
Oliver Goss
Brandon Rodgers
Jack Smith
Marshall Talkington
Juan Carlos Serrano Guevara
Chad Merzbacher - Individual
For the most up-to-date information about the Vol Golf program, visit UTsports.com/golf and follow @Vol_Golf on Twitter.
