University of Tennessee Athletics
Monday, October 19
Saucier, Miss.
University of Tennessee
vs
Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational - Round 3
#9 Vols Finish One Stroke Short of Team Title at Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational
October 19, 2026 | Men's Golf
SAUCIER, Miss. – The No. 9 Tennessee men's golf team posted its best round of the weekend to wrap up the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational on Monday at Fallen Oak Golf Course.
After two rounds over par to begin the tournament, the Vols excelled to a 2-under-par 286 in the third and final round to close the event at 5-over-par. Tennessee was heartbreakingly close to earning a share of the team title, finishing one stroke behind No. 1 Arkansas, No. 12 Illinois and South Carolina as the trio split the team championship in a three-way tie at 4-over-par.
With a fourth-place finish in the team's final event of the Fall season, the Vols earned a top-four finish in three of the team's four tournaments. Tennessee won the team title at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and the Cullan Brown Collegiate, while posting a tie for sixth place at the Inverness Intercollegiate.
Rudy Sautron concluded an impressive Fall season with a tie for sixth place at 1-under-par. The senior transfer from Nebraska carded a 1-under-par 71 in round three, including two birdies on his final four holes to close in the red numbers. Sautron finished within the top 10 in three of four tournaments this Fall, with the other result being a tie for 12th place at the Cullan Brown Collegiate.
Christian Pardue fired the best round of the weekend by a Vol on Monday, posting a 3-under-par 69 in round three. A clean scorecard featuring three birdies and zero bogeys marked the sixth round of par or better for the junior this season. Pardue's final-round effort saw him climb 30 spots among the 84-golfer field to a tie for 42nd place at 9-over-par.
In his second official appearance for Tennessee, Tyler Watts tallied his second consecutive top-15 finish. The star freshman shot an even-par 71 in round three to close the tournament at 3-over-par and tied for 15th place. Watts has earned a score of par or better in four of his six rounds for Tennessee thus far.
Bruce Murphy wrapped up the countable team scoring for Tennessee in round three with a 2-over-par 74. Despite carding three birdies on the day, Murphy slid to a final score of 6-over-par for the tournament, good enough to tie for 30th place.
With the Fall season in the books, the Vols will pause for the Winter before returning to action early in the Spring. Tennessee is slated to begin the Spring season at the Watersound Invitational, Feb. 14-16 in Watersound, Florida.
Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational Standings (Final)
T-1. Arkansas (+4)
T-1. Illinois (+4)
T-1. South Carolina (+4)
4. Tennessee (+5)
5. Wake Forest (+12)
6. LSU (+15)
7. Georgia (+16)
8. Florida State (+17)
9. Alabama (+21)
10. Ohio State (+22)
11. Mississippi State (+29)
T-12. Southern Mississippi (+35)
T-12. Ole Miss (+35)
14. Wisconsin (+46)
15. Iowa (+49)
Tennessee Results (Final)
T-6. Rudy Sautron: 73-71-71 = 215 (-1)
T-15. Tyler Watts: 77-70-72 = 219 (+3)
T-30. Bruce Murphy: 71-77-74 = 222 (+6)
T-42. Christian Pardue: 73-83-69 = 225 (+9)
T-57. Chase Kyes (i): 78-76-74 = 228 (+12)
Jackson Herrington: 75-73-XX
After two rounds over par to begin the tournament, the Vols excelled to a 2-under-par 286 in the third and final round to close the event at 5-over-par. Tennessee was heartbreakingly close to earning a share of the team title, finishing one stroke behind No. 1 Arkansas, No. 12 Illinois and South Carolina as the trio split the team championship in a three-way tie at 4-over-par.
With a fourth-place finish in the team's final event of the Fall season, the Vols earned a top-four finish in three of the team's four tournaments. Tennessee won the team title at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and the Cullan Brown Collegiate, while posting a tie for sixth place at the Inverness Intercollegiate.
Rudy Sautron concluded an impressive Fall season with a tie for sixth place at 1-under-par. The senior transfer from Nebraska carded a 1-under-par 71 in round three, including two birdies on his final four holes to close in the red numbers. Sautron finished within the top 10 in three of four tournaments this Fall, with the other result being a tie for 12th place at the Cullan Brown Collegiate.
Christian Pardue fired the best round of the weekend by a Vol on Monday, posting a 3-under-par 69 in round three. A clean scorecard featuring three birdies and zero bogeys marked the sixth round of par or better for the junior this season. Pardue's final-round effort saw him climb 30 spots among the 84-golfer field to a tie for 42nd place at 9-over-par.
In his second official appearance for Tennessee, Tyler Watts tallied his second consecutive top-15 finish. The star freshman shot an even-par 71 in round three to close the tournament at 3-over-par and tied for 15th place. Watts has earned a score of par or better in four of his six rounds for Tennessee thus far.
Bruce Murphy wrapped up the countable team scoring for Tennessee in round three with a 2-over-par 74. Despite carding three birdies on the day, Murphy slid to a final score of 6-over-par for the tournament, good enough to tie for 30th place.
With the Fall season in the books, the Vols will pause for the Winter before returning to action early in the Spring. Tennessee is slated to begin the Spring season at the Watersound Invitational, Feb. 14-16 in Watersound, Florida.
Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational Standings (Final)
T-1. Arkansas (+4)
T-1. Illinois (+4)
T-1. South Carolina (+4)
4. Tennessee (+5)
5. Wake Forest (+12)
6. LSU (+15)
7. Georgia (+16)
8. Florida State (+17)
9. Alabama (+21)
10. Ohio State (+22)
11. Mississippi State (+29)
T-12. Southern Mississippi (+35)
T-12. Ole Miss (+35)
14. Wisconsin (+46)
15. Iowa (+49)
Tennessee Results (Final)
T-6. Rudy Sautron: 73-71-71 = 215 (-1)
T-15. Tyler Watts: 77-70-72 = 219 (+3)
T-30. Bruce Murphy: 71-77-74 = 222 (+6)
T-42. Christian Pardue: 73-83-69 = 225 (+9)
T-57. Chase Kyes (i): 78-76-74 = 228 (+12)
Jackson Herrington: 75-73-XX
Players Mentioned
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