Tennessee Golf Year-by-Year Archive
2023-24Â Season
Record:Â 143-33-3
SEC Finish: T-5th (Match Play Quarterfinals)Â
                     Finished T-1st in stroke play, advanced to match play quarterfinals
Postseason:Â NCAA Championships (10th) /Â Austin NCAA Regional (2nd)Â
Coach: Brennan Webb (6th season)
Webb's sixth season on Rocky Top was a historic one. For the second consecutive season and third time in his half-dozen years with the Vols, Webb posted a three-win season. He is now the only coach in program history to post three triple-win seasons.Â
Following a tied-for-first stroke play finish at the SEC Championships, Tennessee earned its first-ever NCAA Regional 1-seed and then went on to post a runner-up finish at the Austin Regional to earn the program’s 19th NCAA Championships bid.Â
In addition to Tennessee’s team wins, Bruce Murphy became the seventh Vol under Webb to win at least one individual title after shooting 11-under overall at the Wolfpack Individual Invitational.Â
Additionally, Jake Hall, Bryce Lewis and Evan Woosley-Reed earned All-America Honorable Mention honors following the 2023-24 season, which marks the first time in program history for three players to be tabbed All-Americans. On top of their honorable mention selections, the trio was named to the PING All-Southeast Region team. Postseason honors also included Lewis and Hall being named Second Team All-SEC as Murphy was slated to the SEC All-Freshman team. Following his 2024 second-team selection, Lewis became just the fourth Vol in program history to be a three-time All-SEC honoree.Â
2022-23Â Season
Record:Â 123-35-3
SEC Finish:Â T-3rd (Match Play Semifinals)
                     Finished 1st in stroke play, advanced to match play semifinals
Postseason:Â Auburn NCAAÂ Regional (8th)
Coach: Brennan Webb (5th season)
A program-record-tying three team tournament wins highlighted Brennan Webb’s fifth season at the helm of Tennessee’s program, as the Vols took home team honors at the SEC Fall Match Play Championships, Purdue Fall Invitational and Mossy Oak Collegiate. Overall, the Vols’ season featured six top-two team finishes—which stood as the second-most in a single season in program history.
Individually, SEC Freshman of the Year Caleb Surratt burst onto the scene during his first season on Rocky Top, winning the SEC individual title at Sea Island Golf Club by six strokes—shooting a three-round total of 14-under that stood as the second-best 54-hole score and the lowest ever by a freshman in SEC Championship history. Surratt was also named First Team All-SEC, while his single-season marks in stroke average (69.58) and rounds of par or better (27) set program records.
The Vols recorded four individual titles over the course of the season—two from Surratt (Maui Jim Intercollegiate and SEC Championship) and one apiece from Bryce Lewis (Purdue Fall Invitational) and Jake Hall (All-American Intercollegiate)—as well as 14 individual top-10 finishes. Lewis was named Second Team All-SEC for the second straight season.
2021-22Â Season
Record:Â 85-40-2
SEC Finish:Â T-5th (Match Play Quarterfinals)
                     Finished 7th in stroke play, advanced to match play quarterfinals
Postseason:Â Bryan NCAAÂ Regional (7th)
Coach: Brennan Webb (4th season)
Tennessee enjoyed another successful season in Brennan Webb’s fourth season running the program—finishing inside the top-five in six of its 10 tournaments in a schedule filled with demanding competition.
First Team All-SEC selection Spencer Cross enjoyed one of the best individual seasons in program history and capped off the regular season with his first career individual title at the Lewis Chitengwa Memorial—one of five top-10 individual finishes. Cross concluded the 2021-22 season with a 69.33 stroke average—the lowest single-season stroke average in program history—and also 22 rounds of par or better, which stands as the second-most in a season in program history.
Bryce Lewis was named Second Team All-SEC—finishing the season with a stroke average of 70.97, which marked the third-best in program history. Lewis recorded three individual top-10 finishes.
2020-21Â Season
Record:Â 110-50-8
SEC Finish: T-5th (Match Play Quarterfinals)
                     Finished T-2nd in stroke play, advanced to match play quarterfinals
Postseason: Noblesville NCAA Regional (T-2nd); NCAA Championship (17th)
Coach: Brennan Webb (3rd season)
In Brennan Webb’s third season at the helm, Tennessee qualified for its first NCAA Championships since 2013 and posted its best win percentage (.655) since the 2008-09 season. Additionally, the Vols' SEC win percentage (.650) was their highest since 1994-95. Overall, Tennessee finished in second place as a team at four tournaments—including at the Noblesville NCAA Regional for UT’s highest NCAA Regional finish since 2009.
Hunter Wolcott, a Second Team All-SEC selection, led the Vols in stroke average with a 71.33 mark that ranks second best in program history, while Bryce Lewis’ 71.56 stroke average ranks third in program history. Wolcott and Lewis tied for the team lead in round par or better (19) and top-10 finishes (3). Wolcott, Lewis and Spencer Cross also all landed on the PING All-Southeast Region team—Tennessee’s most All-Region selections since 2009.
2019-20Â Season
Record:Â 71-29-3*
SEC Finish:Â N/A*
Postseason: N/A*
Coach: Brennan Webb (2nd season)
*Season canceled in mid-March due to coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis
Two team tournament titles and an additional pair of top-five team finishes highlighted a season that was ultimately cut short due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis. The Tennessee men’s golf team competed in a total of seven tournaments during the 2019-20 season prior to the cancellation of events taking place in mid-March. In October, the Vols claimed their first tournament championship at the Intercollegiate at the Grove, before capping off the shortened season by winning at the Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic in early March.
Individually, seven different Vols recorded top-10 finishes, while Tyler Johnson recorded Tennessee’s lone individual win — finishing 6-under at the Intercollegiate at the Grove. Three different Vols — Spencer Cross, Bryce Lewis and Rhys Nevin — finished the season with a stroke average of 72 or better, while also all three recording double-digit rounds of par or better. Nevin led the team with six top-25 finishes.
2018-19Â Season
Record:Â 99-46-1
SEC Finish:Â T-5th (Match Play Quarterfinals)
                     Finished T-5th in stroke play, advanced to match play quarterfinals
Postseason:Â Athens NCAA Regional (6th)
Coach: Brennan Webb (1st season)
Tennessee men's golf completed its 2018-19 season with seven top-five finishes in 11 events played. The Vols tied the school record with three team titles—the Carpet Capital Collegiate, Inverness Collegiate and The Hayt. The three wins tied the most of any SEC team in 2018-19, while Tennessee players racked up eight top-five individual finishes, 14 top-10 finishes and 34 top-25 showings throughout the season.
Redshirt sophomore Hunter Wolcott had a breakout season for the Vols, as his round counted in 31 of the 33 rounds he played (93.94 percent). Along the way, he totaled eight top-25 finishes in 12 events, including his first collegiate title at The Hayt in Ponte Vedra, Fla. While leading the team in stroke average (71.91), rounds of par or better (20), and top-10 finishes (4), Wolcott earned All-SEC honors while also being named to the PING Southeast All-Region Team.
2017-18Â Season
Record:Â 111-57-3
SEC Finish: 9th
Postseason:Â Columbus NCAA Regional (T-10th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (20th season)
Tennessee men's golf completed its 2017-18 season with seven top-5 finishes in 12 tournaments play. The Vols captured two team titles—at the East Bay Deli Classic in October and the Yale Spring Invitational in April.
Senior Lorenzo Scalise set a new single-season record with a 70.34 scoring average that included eight top-10 finishes and seven top-five finishes in the season. Scalise earned second team GCAA and Golfweek All-American honors. Sophomore Rhys Nevin's scoring average of 72.21 ranks seventh in program history while sophomore Brayden Garrison's 35 rounds counted ranks fourth in program history.
2016-17 Season
Record: 76-68-1
SEC Finish: 13th
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Jim Kelson (19th season)
Tennessee men's golf completed its 2016-17 season with seven top-10 finishes after 33 rounds of play, securing victories at the East Bay Deli Classic and the Kingsmill Intercollegiate.
Junior Lorenzo Scalise led the Vols with a 72.17 stroke average, carding 19 rounds of par or better, three top-10 individual finishes and six top-25 efforts. He was UT’s best finisher at the SEC Championship, tying for 18th place with a 2-over 212.
2015-16 Season
Record: 81-50-1
SEC Finish: 9th
Postseason:Â Stillwater NCAA Regional (11th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (18th season)
Tennessee men's golf completed its 2015-16 season with nine top-10 finishes after 34 rounds of play. Highlighted by their second place finish at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate, the Vols continued to strike throughout the season.
Senior Chad Merzbacher led the Vols to victory, as he finished tied for second after posting a 5-under 205 at the Kingsmill Intercollegiate. Merzbacher placed individually in the top-10 for four consecutive tournaments and finished his career with a 72.27 average score.
2014-15 Season
Record: 74-81-1
SEC Finish: 12th
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Jim Kelson (17th season)
The Tennessee men's golf program highlighted its 2014-15 season with a wire-to-wire tournament victory at the Colleton River Collegiate. Three Vols—Jack Smith, Chad Merzbacher and Michael Nagy—finished in the top 10.
Smith collected the sole individual title for the Vols in 2014-15 with a win at the Quail Valley Intercollegiate. He shot a 205 total (-11), including a career low 63 in the first round.
The Vols also earned two second-place finishes in the season. Smith's individual victory helped the squad gather a second-place finish at the Quail Valley Intercollegiate. Tennessee also finished second at the Jackrabbit Invitational.
2013-14 Season
Record: 71-75-4 (.487)
SEC Finish: T-12th
Postseason:Â Eugene NCAA Regional (11th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (16th season)
The Vols highlighted their season with back-to-back tournament championships for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Sophomore Oliver Goss set the UT career scoring average with a 71.88 average. Freshman Jack Smith played in every tournament for the Vols, completing a team-high 35 rounds.
UT earned its 15th consecutive trip to the NCAA Regionals, ending its season with an 11th place finish in the NCAA Eugene Regional.
2012-13 Season
Record: 116-62-4 (.656)
SEC Finish: 14th
Postseason: Baton Rouge NCAA Regional (4th); NCAA Championship (T-19th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (15th season)
The Vols surged in the second half of the season to win a pair of team championships and five individual titles, highlighted by senior Rick Lamb's back-to-back victories (SeaBest/C&F Bank Intercollegiate). Freshman Oliver Goss enrolled in December and provided a key spark to the Tennessee lineup. Goss earned first-team All-SEC honors, made the SEC All-Freshman Team and was named a third-team PING All-American, while Lamb earned PING All-American honorable mention. The duo led an NCAA run, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Baton Rouge Regional and a 19th-place showing at the finals.
2011-12 Season
Record: 79-60-1 (.568)
SEC Finish: 8th
Postseason:Â Stanford NCAA Regional (6th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (14th season)
Garrick Porteous' 72.25 average in a team-high 32 rounds led the Vols in 2011-12.
UT also earned an NCAA postseason berth for a record 13th straight time, and ended its season with a sixth-place finish in the NCAA's Stanford Regional.
2010-11 Season
Record: 89-84-4 (.514)
SEC Finish: 3rd
Postseason:Â Indiana-Central NCAA Regional (4th); NCAA Championship (24th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (13th season)
The Vols rallied with a strong finish to the regular season and advanced to the NCAA Championship finals for the third time in program history and first since 1995-97.
UT also earned an NCAA postseason berth for the 12th straight time to extend a school record.
2009-10 Season
Record: 98-72-7 (.573)
SEC Finish: 8th
Postseason:Â San Diego NCAA Regional (3rd); NCAA Championship (25th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (12th season)
The Vols won twice in the first three fall tournaments, including the Carpet Capital Collegiate for the first time thanks to Darren Renwick's medalist honors. UT climbed to No. 1 in the national rankings by Golfstat.com.
NCAA play was highlighted by a third-place showing at the regional in San Diego and a 25th-place effort in the finals at The Honors Course in nearby Ooltewah.
2008-09 Season
Record: 134-50-2 (.726)
SEC Finish: 11th
Postseason: NCAA Northeast Regional (2nd); NCAA Championship (12th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (11th season)
The Vols challenged for the NCAA Northeast Regional before finishing second, and then challenged for a berth in the NCAA Championship Match-Play Quarterfinals before placing 12th.
Chris Paisley (Arizona Invitational) and Robin Wingardh (PING/Golfweek Preview Invitational) won individual titles to help UT to four team runner-up showings.
2007-08 Season
Record: 121-47-3 (.716)
SEC Finish: 6th
Postseason: NCAA Central Regional (11th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (10th season)
The Vols finished fall with a runaway victory at the Turtle Bay (Hawaii) Intercollegiate, and then began spring with another triumph at the Ping Arizona Intercollegiate.
Charlie Ford won the Turtle Bay event behind a school record 54-hole score (200), and Chris Paisley shot 64 in the second round of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate to take medalist honors there.
2006-07 Season
Record: 142-58-3 (.707)
SEC Finish: 1st
Postseason: NCAA Central Regional (5th); NCAA Championship (16th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (9th season)
Tennessee won its first SEC title in 17 years after holding off Alabama by two strokes. Jim Kelson was named SEC Coach of the Year and three Vols finished among the top 10 at the conference championship.
UT also won the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate and finished 16th at the NCAA Championships in Williamsburg, Va.
2005-06 Season
Record: 77-83-1 (.481)
SEC Finish: 9th
Postseason: NCAA East Regional (18th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (8th season)
The Vols won the closing edition of their own Tournament of Champions, with Lloyd Campbell and Philip Pettitt tying for medalist honors with a then-school record score of 201.
The very next week, Jonathan Mount claimed the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate individual title to help Tennessee to a second-place team finish.
2004-05 Season
Record: 121-59-4 (.668)
SEC Finish: 5th
Postseason: NCAA East Regional (2nd); NCAA Championship (11th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (7th season)
David Skinns won the SEC individual championship, UT's first medalist at the conference tournament in 15 years. The victory by Skinns jump-started Tennessee's postseason run to an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championship.
The Vols won three times, twice in-state with the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate and Tournament of Champions. UT also claimed the Ashworth Collegiate Invitational in Los Angeles. Ross McGowan was named All-America third team.
2003-04 Season
Record: 99-87-2 (.532)
SEC Finish: 6th
Postseason: NCAA East Regional (18th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (6th season)
The Vols finished third in consecutive fall tournaments en route to another NCAA regional appearance. Tennessee placed 18th at the NCAA East Regional in New Haven, Conn.
UT's Bowen Sargent was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
2002-03 Season
Record: 126-98-1 (.564)
SEC Finish: 4th
Postseason: NCAA East Regional (4th); NCAA Championship (23rd)
Coach: Jim Kelson (5th season)
The Vols finished fourth at the SEC Championship and fourth at the NCAA East Regional in New Haven, Conn., leading to the team's first NCAA Championship appearance under Jim Kelson and first since 1997.
Ian Parnaby won the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate, sparking UT to a second-place showing. Tennessee also finished second the following week at the Turtle Bay Intercollegiate in Hawaii.
2001-02 Season
Record: 124-52-1 (.703)
SEC Finish: 7th
Postseason: NCAA East Regional (13th)
Coach: Jim Kelson (4th season)
The Vols won three times and finished second twice in 12 tournaments. Included in the tournament victories was the Augusta State Invitational, with freshman David Skinns claiming medalist honors.
Tennessee also captured its own Tournament of Champions as well as the Rice Invitational en route to its third straight NCAA regional appearance.
