Sunday, April 26
Ackerman-Allen Course - West Lafayette, Ind.
UT Martin
vs
OVC Championships
Photo by: Aaron Behnfeldt
Skyhawks Conclude 2025-26 Campaign In OVC Championships Match Play Semifinals
4/29/2026 1:09:00 PM | Golf
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Tennessee at Martin golf team saw its successful 2025-26 season come to an end today as the Skyhawks fell by a 5-0 margin to Tennessee Tech in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship match play semifinals.
Making its fourth appearance in the OVC match play round since the league changed its format five years ago, UT Martin battled throughout but ran into a hot Golden Eagles squad at the Ackerman-Allen Course.
Grant Phillips led his head-to-head matchup through 15 holes and was tied going into the final hole before falling 1Up. Luke Caldwell held the advantage for the final five holes before making the turn but fell 1Up in a matchup that lasted 14 holes. Drew Williams was tied through 13 holes but ended up falling 2Up while Bryce Harmon (lost 3Up in 15 holes) and John-Gregory Wilson (lost 5&4) also represented the Skyhawks today.
"Today obviously didn't go the way we wanted it to but at the same time, we are thankful to be standing on the last day of the OVC Championships," UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. "It stings to lose but match play is different – sometimes you can play well but your opponent plays well too and you just get beat. Overall, we had a good week – we handled the conditions well and were patient in stroke play. I'm super proud of the guys and their effort throughout this tournament."
The Skyhawks wrap up the 2025-26 campaign with an impressive list of team and individual accolades in Year Six of the Swafford Era. UT Martin has finished third or better in the OVC Championships in five out of six seasons under Swafford and never placed below fifth during his tenure.
"Today's result does not define our season at all," Swafford said. "We finished the season with seven top-5 tournament finishes, a school-record three All-OVC selections, two OVC All-Tournament recipients and finished stroke play as the league's No. 2 seed – I don't want that to be overlooked. Golf can sometimes hand you some unlucky breaks and it seems like nothing is quite going your way but we talk about being relentless all the time – we showed that this week and throughout the season."
Making its fourth appearance in the OVC match play round since the league changed its format five years ago, UT Martin battled throughout but ran into a hot Golden Eagles squad at the Ackerman-Allen Course.
Grant Phillips led his head-to-head matchup through 15 holes and was tied going into the final hole before falling 1Up. Luke Caldwell held the advantage for the final five holes before making the turn but fell 1Up in a matchup that lasted 14 holes. Drew Williams was tied through 13 holes but ended up falling 2Up while Bryce Harmon (lost 3Up in 15 holes) and John-Gregory Wilson (lost 5&4) also represented the Skyhawks today.
"Today obviously didn't go the way we wanted it to but at the same time, we are thankful to be standing on the last day of the OVC Championships," UT Martin head coach Austin Swafford said. "It stings to lose but match play is different – sometimes you can play well but your opponent plays well too and you just get beat. Overall, we had a good week – we handled the conditions well and were patient in stroke play. I'm super proud of the guys and their effort throughout this tournament."
The Skyhawks wrap up the 2025-26 campaign with an impressive list of team and individual accolades in Year Six of the Swafford Era. UT Martin has finished third or better in the OVC Championships in five out of six seasons under Swafford and never placed below fifth during his tenure.
"Today's result does not define our season at all," Swafford said. "We finished the season with seven top-5 tournament finishes, a school-record three All-OVC selections, two OVC All-Tournament recipients and finished stroke play as the league's No. 2 seed – I don't want that to be overlooked. Golf can sometimes hand you some unlucky breaks and it seems like nothing is quite going your way but we talk about being relentless all the time – we showed that this week and throughout the season."
Players Mentioned
/ Golf
/ Golf
/ Golf
/ Golf
/ Golf
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 27
Tuesday, March 17
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 24
Tuesday, February 24
Meet The Skyhawks - Luke Beadles
Friday, January 23
Meet The Skyhawks - John Gregory Wilson
Friday, January 23