University of Tennessee Athletics
Men's Golf Adds Four to Class of 2016
November 11, 2015 | Men's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee men’s golf program added four individuals to the 2016 class Wednesday.
“Our program is very excited to have these four players join our team next year,” Head Coach Jim Kelson said. “These players possess the skills needed to compete at the highest levels of the SEC.”
Kelson is incredibly pleased with the four newcomers and believes this class is one of the best he has seen at the University of Tennessee.
“We see a great deal of upside with this class,” Kelson said. “Collectively, this is one of the strongest recruiting classes in my twenty-four year coaching career. We look forward to working with these young men in their quest to become SEC Champions.”
The four-player class has collected 12 top-five finishes in 2014 and 2015, including two tournament victories.
Two additions—Hunter Wolcott and Brayden Garrison—are in-state products. Both hail from the Middle Tennessee region as Wolcott is from Burns, Tenn., and Garrison is from Nolensville, Tenn.
Sean Wilcox chose to leave the Lonestar State to attend the University of Tennessee. Wilcox is a native of Frisco, Texas.
The Vols have a keen interest in bringing international players to Rocky Top, and they landed another individual in Rhys Nevin-Wharton. The Cheshire, England, native will join the 2016 roster with three current international student-athletes.
Rhys Nevin-Wharton
Rhys Nevin-Wharton has been highly successful in European competitions, earning five top-five finishes over the last two years. He took the tournament title at the 2015 Northern England County Championship and placed runner-up at the 2014 Daily Telegraph Junior Championship.
Other accomplishments include a third-place finish in the 2015 Henry Cooper Junior Masters, a fourth-place finish at the 2015 Irish Boys Championship and a fifth-place finish at the 2015 Dutch Under-21 Championship.
Hunter Wolcott
Wolcott commits to the Vols with two top-15 finishes in 2014 and 2015, including a tie for 11th at the 2014 Chattanooga Choo Choo Invitational in the amateur results. The Dickson County High School product also finished third at the TSSAA AAA Golf Championship with a 5-under in 2015.
In addition to qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur, Wolcott was also named the GolfWeek Junior Boys Player of the Week on March 2, 2015, after winning a GolfWeek Junior Tour event at Greystone Golf Club.
Other accomplishments include top-20 finishes at the 2015 Tennessee State Open, the 2014 Southern Junior tournament and the IMF Junior World Golf Championship.
Sean Wilcox
Wilcox signs with the Vols as defending state champion in the Texas Association of Private and Patriarchal Schools 5A class. In addition to his state title, he has placed in the top 10 in two AJCA events, fifth in the LJGT Lanny Wadkins tournament and fourth in the 2014 Bluebonnet Championship.
He was also a 2014 Texas Cup participant and has been invited to participate in the 2015 Aaron Baddeley International Junior event Dec. 5-10, 2015, in Carlsbad, Calif.
The Frisco, Texas, native attends Prestonwood Christian Academy.
Brayden Garrison
Nolensville, Tenn., native Brayden Garrison will come to Rocky Top with two top-five finishes and three top-10 finishes in AJGA events in 2015, including a third-place finish in the Under Armour Scott Stallings Championship at Oak Ridge Country Club.
Garrison also made the cut at the 2015 Tennessee State Open, advanced to the Tennessee State Match Play Round of 16 and participated in the Tennessee Junior Cup.
The Ravenwood High golfer qualified for the TSSAA State High School Championship in 2013 and 2015.
