University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, April 22
St. Simons Island, Ga.
University of Tennessee
vs
SEC Championships - Round 1
Photo by: Olivia Wilson
Murphy Leads #14 Vols in SEC Championship Round One
April 22, 2026 | Men's Golf
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The No. 14 Tennessee men's golf team began the 2026 SEC Championship on Wednesday with round one contested at Sea Island Golf Course.
The Vols posted a 2-under-par 278 and are tied for 13th place through 18 holes of play. Tennessee will have to make up some ground over the final two rounds of stroke play to reserve a spot in the match play quarterfinals, which is awarded to the top eight teams after three rounds of stroke play.
No. 17 Alabama and South Carolina are currently tied for 7th place, rounding out the tournament's top eight teams through one round at 8-under-par, six strokes ahead of the Vols. At the top of the standings, No. 12 Ole Miss leads five teams who earned double digit scores under par at 15-under-par.
Bruce Murphy led the way for Tennessee in round one with a clean-cut performance featuring just one bogey. The Vol junior tallied three birdies to record a 2-under-par 68, his fourth consecutive round in the 60s dating back to his last outing. Murphy is tied for 23rd place ahead of Thursday's second round.
Chase Kyes and Josh Hill each notched 1-under-par scores of 69 for Tennessee in round one. Kyes marked his SEC Championship debut with a team-high four birdies on the day. An SEC Championship veteran, Hill opened his week with three birdies and just two bogeys through 18. The pair is tied for 31st place after round one.
Lance Simpson earned the Vols' final countable score on Wednesday with a 2-over-par 72. Three bogeys on his final nine holes derailed what was a steady start for the senior. Simpson is tied for 61st placing entering round two.
Stroke play at the SEC Championship will continue with round two on Tuesday morning. Tennessee's tee times will begin at 9:15 a.m. EST from hole No. 10.
SEC Championship Stroke Play Standings (Round One)
1. Ole Miss (-15)
2. Oklahoma (-14)
T-3. Auburn (-11)
T-3. Texas (-11)
T-3. Florida (-11)
6. Mississippi State (-9)
T-7. South Carolina (-8)
T-7. Alabama (-8)
9. Texas A&M (-6)
T-10. LSU (-5)
T-10. Missouri (-5)
12. Arkansas (-3)
T-13. Tennessee (-2)
T-13. Vanderbilt (-2)
15. Georgia (E)
16. Kentucky (+5)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-23. Bruce Murphy: 68 (-2)
T-31. Chase Kyes: 69 (-1)
T-31. Josh Hill: 69 (-1)
T-61. Lance Simpson: 72 (+2)
T-66. Jackson Herrington: 73 (+3)
The Vols posted a 2-under-par 278 and are tied for 13th place through 18 holes of play. Tennessee will have to make up some ground over the final two rounds of stroke play to reserve a spot in the match play quarterfinals, which is awarded to the top eight teams after three rounds of stroke play.
No. 17 Alabama and South Carolina are currently tied for 7th place, rounding out the tournament's top eight teams through one round at 8-under-par, six strokes ahead of the Vols. At the top of the standings, No. 12 Ole Miss leads five teams who earned double digit scores under par at 15-under-par.
Bruce Murphy led the way for Tennessee in round one with a clean-cut performance featuring just one bogey. The Vol junior tallied three birdies to record a 2-under-par 68, his fourth consecutive round in the 60s dating back to his last outing. Murphy is tied for 23rd place ahead of Thursday's second round.
Chase Kyes and Josh Hill each notched 1-under-par scores of 69 for Tennessee in round one. Kyes marked his SEC Championship debut with a team-high four birdies on the day. An SEC Championship veteran, Hill opened his week with three birdies and just two bogeys through 18. The pair is tied for 31st place after round one.
Lance Simpson earned the Vols' final countable score on Wednesday with a 2-over-par 72. Three bogeys on his final nine holes derailed what was a steady start for the senior. Simpson is tied for 61st placing entering round two.
Stroke play at the SEC Championship will continue with round two on Tuesday morning. Tennessee's tee times will begin at 9:15 a.m. EST from hole No. 10.
SEC Championship Stroke Play Standings (Round One)
1. Ole Miss (-15)
2. Oklahoma (-14)
T-3. Auburn (-11)
T-3. Texas (-11)
T-3. Florida (-11)
6. Mississippi State (-9)
T-7. South Carolina (-8)
T-7. Alabama (-8)
9. Texas A&M (-6)
T-10. LSU (-5)
T-10. Missouri (-5)
12. Arkansas (-3)
T-13. Tennessee (-2)
T-13. Vanderbilt (-2)
15. Georgia (E)
16. Kentucky (+5)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-23. Bruce Murphy: 68 (-2)
T-31. Chase Kyes: 69 (-1)
T-31. Josh Hill: 69 (-1)
T-61. Lance Simpson: 72 (+2)
T-66. Jackson Herrington: 73 (+3)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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