University of Tennessee Athletics
Seniors Help Vols Start Season Strong
February 04, 2013 | Men's Golf
Feb. 4, 2013
PONTE VEDRA, Fla. -- A new season can bring new results. The Tennessee men's golf team proved that Monday by dominating the field. The Vols jumped out to a big lead at the SeaBest Invitational and have yet to look back. Led by seniors Rick Lamb and Jay Vandeventer, the Tennessee team is sitting in 1st place after shooting a tournament best 9-under par (579) through two rounds.
Played at the famous PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, the two-day SeaBest Invitational is hosted by Jacksonville University. Teams played the first two rounds on Monday, Feb. 4 and will play the final round on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
The Volunteers led both the team and individual leaderboard from the tournament's earliest stages. Lamb held a firm grip on the individual lead throughout the entire day. He finished the first round with a 2-under par (70) and three birdies. He completed the second round with a 7-under par (65), seven birdies and an eagle on the 9th hole. Lamb finished each round in 1st place.
"I just had one of those days where you don't have to think about much and everything clicks," Lamb said. "I hit it really well throughout the second round, but to be honest, I missed quite a few short putts".
Lamb was not the only Volunteer to show up for head coach Jim Kelson. Vandeventer backed up his senior teammate by shooting a one-under par (143) and finishing tied for 12th. Australian import Oliver Goss also contributed by shooting a 4-over par (148) and finishing tied for 30th. The Tennessee team was rounded out by Thomas Dunne shooting a 9-over par (153) and Brandon Rodgers shooting a 15-over par (159).
"We got off to a slow start, but I was really proud of how we battled back," Kelson said. "Rick (Lamb) played an incredible round of golf and we are looking forward to continuing that success tomorrow afternoon".
Tuesday's final round begins at 8:30 a.m. ET. The Vols will tee off at 9:40 a.m. ET and be paired with Texas A&M and Coastal Carolina.
Volunteer fans can follow the action at golfstat.com and by following men's golf at @Vol_Golf on Twitter.
| TEAM SCORES (Through Two Rounds) | ||
| 1. | #26 TENNESSEE | 579 (+3) |
| 2. | #30 Texas A&M | 585 (+9) |
| 3. | #46 Coastal Carolina | 596 (+20) |
| 4. | Winthrop | 600 (+24) |
| T-5. | Old Dominion | 610 (+34) |
| T-5. | ETSU | 610 (+34) |
| 7. | East Carolina | 611 (+35) |
| 8. | Jacksonville State | 613 (+37) |
| 9. | Jacksonville | 614 (+38) |
| 10. | Francis Marion | 615 (+39) |
| 11. | Georgia State | 617 (+41) |
| 12. | Wofford College | 624 (+48) |
| 13. | Florida Gulf Coast | 626 (+50) |
| 14. | USC Upstate | 627 (+51) |
| 15. | Charleston Southern | 640 (+64) |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Through Two Rounds) | ||
| 1. | Rick Lamb, TENNESSEE | 135 (-9) |
| 2. | Jay Vandeventer, TENNESSEE | 143 (-1) |
| 3. | Drew Evans, Texas A&M | 144 (E) |
| T-4. | Tomasz Anderson, Jacksonville State | 145 (+2) |
| T-4. | Adrian Meronk, ETSU | 145 (+1) |
| UT SCORES (Through Two Rounds) | ||
| 1. | Rick Lamb | 135 (-9) |
| 2. | Jay Vandeventer | 143 (-1) |
| T-9. | Oliver Goss | 148 (+4) |
| T-24. | Thomas Dunne | 153 (+9) |
| T-55. | Brandon Rodgers | 159 (+15) |
