Photo by: UT Martin Sports Information
SKYHAWK GOLF’S SURGING OVC DYNASTY ON FULL DISPLAY HEADING INTO NEXT WEEK’S NCAA REGIONAL
5/11/2022 10:54:00 AM | Golf
MARTIN, Tenn. – Despite some unfamiliar surroundings at the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Golf Championships, it was business as usual for the University of Tennessee at Martin.
New OVC Championships format to award the league's automatic qualifier into the postseason? No problem. First time the OVC Championships have been held in the state of Missouri? Think nothing of it. Three of the five Skyhawk golfers in the lineup making their OVC Championship debuts? No big deal.
UT Martin ignored all distractions and got the job done – earning the No. 2 seed following 54 holes of stroke play before winning back-to-back decisions in the inaugural match play format. When the dust cleared, the Skyhawks were hoisting the OVC championship trophy for the second straight season and third time in the last six league tournaments.
"This season presented a unique dynamic because we were the defending champions but we had a whole new group essentially," said UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford, who has had a major hand in all three OVC championships (two as coach, one as a student-athlete). "Because of the extra COVID-19 year of eligibility, the average age of last year's team was between 22-23 years old. This year's squad's average age is somewhere between 19-20 years old so you're looking at two to three years of experience that we lost. Six of our nine players are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. In a way, I think that kind of helped us because it was just like a clean, fresh start. I didn't have the same group back to defend their title with any of that pressure, I had a new bunch who were eager to win a championship."
The Skyhawks' burgeoning rise to the OVC echelon can be traced back nearly a decade ago. Since the state-of-the-art Rhodes Golf Center opened its doors on the UT Martin campus in 2013, the Skyhawks have won a whopping 29 tournaments (including the first three OVC team titles in school history) while producing 26 individual medalists (including the first four OVC Championship winners) in 104 opportunities.
Since Swafford took over as head coach of his alma mater prior to the 2020-21 campaign, UT Martin has won exactly half of its tournaments (10 of 20).
So what is the secret to the Skyhawks' success?
"Obviously it doesn't happen overnight but I think the main factors are the people and our student-athletes," Swafford said. "We've been blessed to have so many phenomenal people in and around our program that nobody really ever sees and they have a hand in our success. Kind of like any other organization, there are multiple people behind the scenes who make everything we do possible. The UT Martin donors and our parents are second to none. Everybody has a role and we have to be really good at that role – it takes all of us."
When on the recruiting trail chasing down the next wave of Skyhawks, Swafford identifies certain qualities in potential signees that will carry on the established team culture.
"We look for young men that are competitive, who want to get better and are going to push one another," Swafford said. "Our recruits also have to be high-character individuals off the golf course who are committed to everything that UT Martin represents. College golf is so hard because you're trying to balance a team atmosphere in an individual sport where you have to compete against each other all year to go to a tournament. It's difficult to balance that because not everybody gets to travel so I'm looking for a student-athlete who can come in and if they don't qualify, they are still happy for the teammate who did but that motivates them to go work harder so they qualify the next time out."
The five Skyhawks in the NCAA Regional scoring lineup exemplify the UT Martin culture. Murfreesboro, Tenn. native Tate Chumley (73.6 season scoring average) will lead things off at No. 1, as the senior is coming off an electrifying OVC Championships performance. The two-time All-OVC honoree nabbed OVC All-Tournament accolades after placing fifth in the field in stroke play (221, +5) before going 2-0 in match play, clinching both team triumphs for the Skyhawks on the final hole after each score was knotted at 2-all.
"Obviously Tate brings the most experience and that helps a ton," Swafford said. "He competed his tail off at the OVC Championships and won both anchor matches for us on the final day. I don't know how you can write a better story for him. The ups and downs, the highs and lows – he's embraced it all. For it to end like this, there's no one more deserving."
Representing UT Martin at the No. 2 slot will be junior Jacob Uehlein, who boasts a 73.9 stroke average in 2021-22. The Tullahoma, Tenn. native racked up a team-best seven top-20 finishes in 10 tournaments this season, placing 10th in the OVC Championships before tacking on a head-to-head win in the match play semifinals.
"Nine times out of 10, Jacob is going to play with no fear – that's one of his many strengths," Swafford said. "He does a very good job of not getting too high or too low and he's kind of stepped into his own in a leadership role this year with these younger guys – his body language and attitude is always on point."
Bryson Morrell (74.6 season scoring average) mans the No. 3 position in the Skyhawk lineup, as the junior from Knoxville, Tenn. secured All-OVC status this season. He finished 13th in the OVC Championships and was one of three UT Martin victors in the championship match against Tennessee Tech, defeating the OVC Freshman of the Year in the process.
"I'm super proud of Bryson and his season – I gave him our 'Most Improved' award," Swafford said. "As an engineering major, Bryson's short game is so creative – he sees things in his mind that nobody else can. He is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and is very genuine in what he does and says."
A redshirt freshman out of Chattanooga, Tenn., Jonathan Xoinis occupies the No. 4 spot in the Skyhawk lineup. The All-OVC Newcomer sported a 74.7 stroke average in 2021-22 and is coming off a dominant 5&4 victory in the OVC Championship finals matchup over Tennessee Tech.
"Even though he didn't play last year, Jonathan got to experience being with some of those older guys and I think that has really helped him," Swafford said. "He qualified for every tournament this season and that is a pretty impressive feat. He displays excellent demeanor at all times and is so easy to coach."
Garrett Chumley, younger brother of Tate, has solidified the No. 5 position for UT Martin. The freshman from Murfreesboro, Tenn. notched All-OVC Newcomer hardware this season, collecting a pair of OVC Golfer of the Week awards in the process. He powered through for a match play win in the OVC Championship semifinals and generated a 74.5 season scoring average.
"Just like Jonathan, Garrett qualified for every event – that's hard to do as a freshman," Swafford said. "Garrett plays very competitively, very passionately and wants to play so well every single time – he plays with such a fire and I love that about him. He won his second career tournament and we were able to build off that immediate success."
The Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. is the next challenge on the Skyhawk list as the NCAA Regional site plays at 7,452 yards. After successfully conquering the pristine Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the OVC Championships, Swafford hopes his squad draws from many past experiences this season.
"Playing in Oklahoma is definitely a little bit of an uncharted territory but it's always fun to go and play somewhere you haven't been," Swafford said. "I expect it to be decently windy and the good news is that we've played in high winds all spring. It's difficult to play in those conditions but from a physical and mental standpoint, we are prepared for that. We've played Dalhousie and TPC San Antonio – one of the toughest venues on the PGA Tour – this season where every shot is demanding – I think Jimmie Austin will be very comparable."
To stay sharp, UT Martin played a round at Jackson (Tenn.) Country Club last Friday before taking part in another tuneup at Paducah (Ky.) Country Club yesterday. The Skyhawks are also set to play on the Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla. – host of a 2021 NCAA Regional – this Saturday, May 14.
UT Martin has its official practice round the following day before the 54-hole stroke play NCAA Regional event takes place on May 16-18.
"We are excited to go and compete against some of the very best teams in the country," Swafford said. "As a mid-major program, we don't get that opportunity too often. Our group has fully bought in – we are going to go out and play to the best of our ability and see what happens."
New OVC Championships format to award the league's automatic qualifier into the postseason? No problem. First time the OVC Championships have been held in the state of Missouri? Think nothing of it. Three of the five Skyhawk golfers in the lineup making their OVC Championship debuts? No big deal.
UT Martin ignored all distractions and got the job done – earning the No. 2 seed following 54 holes of stroke play before winning back-to-back decisions in the inaugural match play format. When the dust cleared, the Skyhawks were hoisting the OVC championship trophy for the second straight season and third time in the last six league tournaments.
"This season presented a unique dynamic because we were the defending champions but we had a whole new group essentially," said UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford, who has had a major hand in all three OVC championships (two as coach, one as a student-athlete). "Because of the extra COVID-19 year of eligibility, the average age of last year's team was between 22-23 years old. This year's squad's average age is somewhere between 19-20 years old so you're looking at two to three years of experience that we lost. Six of our nine players are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. In a way, I think that kind of helped us because it was just like a clean, fresh start. I didn't have the same group back to defend their title with any of that pressure, I had a new bunch who were eager to win a championship."
The Skyhawks' burgeoning rise to the OVC echelon can be traced back nearly a decade ago. Since the state-of-the-art Rhodes Golf Center opened its doors on the UT Martin campus in 2013, the Skyhawks have won a whopping 29 tournaments (including the first three OVC team titles in school history) while producing 26 individual medalists (including the first four OVC Championship winners) in 104 opportunities.
Since Swafford took over as head coach of his alma mater prior to the 2020-21 campaign, UT Martin has won exactly half of its tournaments (10 of 20).
So what is the secret to the Skyhawks' success?
"Obviously it doesn't happen overnight but I think the main factors are the people and our student-athletes," Swafford said. "We've been blessed to have so many phenomenal people in and around our program that nobody really ever sees and they have a hand in our success. Kind of like any other organization, there are multiple people behind the scenes who make everything we do possible. The UT Martin donors and our parents are second to none. Everybody has a role and we have to be really good at that role – it takes all of us."
When on the recruiting trail chasing down the next wave of Skyhawks, Swafford identifies certain qualities in potential signees that will carry on the established team culture.
"We look for young men that are competitive, who want to get better and are going to push one another," Swafford said. "Our recruits also have to be high-character individuals off the golf course who are committed to everything that UT Martin represents. College golf is so hard because you're trying to balance a team atmosphere in an individual sport where you have to compete against each other all year to go to a tournament. It's difficult to balance that because not everybody gets to travel so I'm looking for a student-athlete who can come in and if they don't qualify, they are still happy for the teammate who did but that motivates them to go work harder so they qualify the next time out."
The five Skyhawks in the NCAA Regional scoring lineup exemplify the UT Martin culture. Murfreesboro, Tenn. native Tate Chumley (73.6 season scoring average) will lead things off at No. 1, as the senior is coming off an electrifying OVC Championships performance. The two-time All-OVC honoree nabbed OVC All-Tournament accolades after placing fifth in the field in stroke play (221, +5) before going 2-0 in match play, clinching both team triumphs for the Skyhawks on the final hole after each score was knotted at 2-all.
"Obviously Tate brings the most experience and that helps a ton," Swafford said. "He competed his tail off at the OVC Championships and won both anchor matches for us on the final day. I don't know how you can write a better story for him. The ups and downs, the highs and lows – he's embraced it all. For it to end like this, there's no one more deserving."
Representing UT Martin at the No. 2 slot will be junior Jacob Uehlein, who boasts a 73.9 stroke average in 2021-22. The Tullahoma, Tenn. native racked up a team-best seven top-20 finishes in 10 tournaments this season, placing 10th in the OVC Championships before tacking on a head-to-head win in the match play semifinals.
"Nine times out of 10, Jacob is going to play with no fear – that's one of his many strengths," Swafford said. "He does a very good job of not getting too high or too low and he's kind of stepped into his own in a leadership role this year with these younger guys – his body language and attitude is always on point."
Bryson Morrell (74.6 season scoring average) mans the No. 3 position in the Skyhawk lineup, as the junior from Knoxville, Tenn. secured All-OVC status this season. He finished 13th in the OVC Championships and was one of three UT Martin victors in the championship match against Tennessee Tech, defeating the OVC Freshman of the Year in the process.
"I'm super proud of Bryson and his season – I gave him our 'Most Improved' award," Swafford said. "As an engineering major, Bryson's short game is so creative – he sees things in his mind that nobody else can. He is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and is very genuine in what he does and says."
A redshirt freshman out of Chattanooga, Tenn., Jonathan Xoinis occupies the No. 4 spot in the Skyhawk lineup. The All-OVC Newcomer sported a 74.7 stroke average in 2021-22 and is coming off a dominant 5&4 victory in the OVC Championship finals matchup over Tennessee Tech.
"Even though he didn't play last year, Jonathan got to experience being with some of those older guys and I think that has really helped him," Swafford said. "He qualified for every tournament this season and that is a pretty impressive feat. He displays excellent demeanor at all times and is so easy to coach."
Garrett Chumley, younger brother of Tate, has solidified the No. 5 position for UT Martin. The freshman from Murfreesboro, Tenn. notched All-OVC Newcomer hardware this season, collecting a pair of OVC Golfer of the Week awards in the process. He powered through for a match play win in the OVC Championship semifinals and generated a 74.5 season scoring average.
"Just like Jonathan, Garrett qualified for every event – that's hard to do as a freshman," Swafford said. "Garrett plays very competitively, very passionately and wants to play so well every single time – he plays with such a fire and I love that about him. He won his second career tournament and we were able to build off that immediate success."
The Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. is the next challenge on the Skyhawk list as the NCAA Regional site plays at 7,452 yards. After successfully conquering the pristine Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. at the OVC Championships, Swafford hopes his squad draws from many past experiences this season.
"Playing in Oklahoma is definitely a little bit of an uncharted territory but it's always fun to go and play somewhere you haven't been," Swafford said. "I expect it to be decently windy and the good news is that we've played in high winds all spring. It's difficult to play in those conditions but from a physical and mental standpoint, we are prepared for that. We've played Dalhousie and TPC San Antonio – one of the toughest venues on the PGA Tour – this season where every shot is demanding – I think Jimmie Austin will be very comparable."
To stay sharp, UT Martin played a round at Jackson (Tenn.) Country Club last Friday before taking part in another tuneup at Paducah (Ky.) Country Club yesterday. The Skyhawks are also set to play on the Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Okla. – host of a 2021 NCAA Regional – this Saturday, May 14.
UT Martin has its official practice round the following day before the 54-hole stroke play NCAA Regional event takes place on May 16-18.
"We are excited to go and compete against some of the very best teams in the country," Swafford said. "As a mid-major program, we don't get that opportunity too often. Our group has fully bought in – we are going to go out and play to the best of our ability and see what happens."
Players Mentioned
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