University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, September 13
Toledo, Ohio
University of Tennessee
vs
Inverness Intercollegiate - Round 1
Photo by: Ben Adelberg/Back of the Range
Vols Tied for Second Place Through Round One of Inverness Intercollegiate
September 13, 2026 | Men's Golf
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Tennessee men's golf team got off to a strong start at its second tournament of the 2026-27 season on Sunday at the Inverness Intercollegiate.
On a day where just one team finished round one under par at the Inverness Club, the Vols fired a 7-over-par 291 to sit tied for second place through 18 holes. At 1-under-par, Iowa holds an eight-stroke lead over Tennessee, Toledo, and Ohio State, who are each tied for second place at 7-over-par.
Freshman Pennson Badgett impressed for the Vols in round one, closing the day as one of just 11 individuals in the 90-player field with a round of par or better. Badgett fired an even-par 71 to lead Tennessee, opening the round with a bogey-free 3-under-par front nine, before four bogeys on the back nine kept him from posting a red number. The only freshman in the Vols' lineup this week is three strokes back of the individual lead and tied for eighth place with 36 holes to play.
After a runner-up start to open his Tennessee career at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate, Rudy Sautron began the Inverness Intercollegiate with the Vols' second-best score in round one. The senior transfer from Nebraska carded a 1-over-par 72, turning in a clean scorecard featuring two birdies blemished by a double bogey on hole No. 8. Sautron is four strokes behind the individual leader and tied for 12th place ahead of round two on Monday.
Jackson Herrington posted a similar opening round to Sautron, tallying two birdies which were also offset by a double bogey on hole No. 8. The junior concluded the day with a 2-over-par 73 for Tennessee's third-best score of the day. Herrington is tied for 18th place entering Monday's second round.
The final countable score for the Vols in round one was posted by Bruce Murphy, who posted a 4-over-par 75 on the opening 18. The fifth-year from Atlanta fired two birdies in the round, but was unable to overcome three bogeys on his final five holes of the round. Murphy is tied for 37th place with 36 holes to play.
The Inverness Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Monday. Live broadcast coverage will be available starting at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Inverness Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. Iowa (-1)
T-2. Tennessee (+7)
T-2. Toledo (+7)
T-2. Ohio State (+7)
5. Purdue (+9)
6. Auburn (+10)
T-7. Texas Tech (+11)
T-7. East Tennessee State (+11)
T-7. Michigan (+11)
10. Loyola Marymount (+12)
11. Vanderbilt (+14)
T-12. Wake Forest (+15)
T-12. Ole Miss (+15)
T-12. Clemson (+15)
15. Oklahoma (+16)
16. Virginia (+18)
17. LSU (+21)
18. Austin Peay (+33)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-8. Pennson Badgett: 71 (E)
T-12. Rudy Sautron: 72 (+1)
T-18. Jackson Herrington: 73 (+2)
T-37. Bruce Murphy: 75 (+4)
T-73. Luke Smith: 78 (+7)
On a day where just one team finished round one under par at the Inverness Club, the Vols fired a 7-over-par 291 to sit tied for second place through 18 holes. At 1-under-par, Iowa holds an eight-stroke lead over Tennessee, Toledo, and Ohio State, who are each tied for second place at 7-over-par.
Freshman Pennson Badgett impressed for the Vols in round one, closing the day as one of just 11 individuals in the 90-player field with a round of par or better. Badgett fired an even-par 71 to lead Tennessee, opening the round with a bogey-free 3-under-par front nine, before four bogeys on the back nine kept him from posting a red number. The only freshman in the Vols' lineup this week is three strokes back of the individual lead and tied for eighth place with 36 holes to play.
After a runner-up start to open his Tennessee career at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate, Rudy Sautron began the Inverness Intercollegiate with the Vols' second-best score in round one. The senior transfer from Nebraska carded a 1-over-par 72, turning in a clean scorecard featuring two birdies blemished by a double bogey on hole No. 8. Sautron is four strokes behind the individual leader and tied for 12th place ahead of round two on Monday.
Jackson Herrington posted a similar opening round to Sautron, tallying two birdies which were also offset by a double bogey on hole No. 8. The junior concluded the day with a 2-over-par 73 for Tennessee's third-best score of the day. Herrington is tied for 18th place entering Monday's second round.
The final countable score for the Vols in round one was posted by Bruce Murphy, who posted a 4-over-par 75 on the opening 18. The fifth-year from Atlanta fired two birdies in the round, but was unable to overcome three bogeys on his final five holes of the round. Murphy is tied for 37th place with 36 holes to play.
The Inverness Intercollegiate will continue with round two on Monday. Live broadcast coverage will be available starting at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Inverness Intercollegiate Standings (Round One)
1. Iowa (-1)
T-2. Tennessee (+7)
T-2. Toledo (+7)
T-2. Ohio State (+7)
5. Purdue (+9)
6. Auburn (+10)
T-7. Texas Tech (+11)
T-7. East Tennessee State (+11)
T-7. Michigan (+11)
10. Loyola Marymount (+12)
11. Vanderbilt (+14)
T-12. Wake Forest (+15)
T-12. Ole Miss (+15)
T-12. Clemson (+15)
15. Oklahoma (+16)
16. Virginia (+18)
17. LSU (+21)
18. Austin Peay (+33)
Tennessee Results (Round One)
T-8. Pennson Badgett: 71 (E)
T-12. Rudy Sautron: 72 (+1)
T-18. Jackson Herrington: 73 (+2)
T-37. Bruce Murphy: 75 (+4)
T-73. Luke Smith: 78 (+7)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Friday, May 15
Tuesday, September 02
Tuesday, September 03
Friday, April 26
