UTC is hosting one of college golf’s premier tournaments on Monday and Tuesday at The Honors Course. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.
photo by Contributed
When Blaine Woodruff assumed the helm of the men’s golf program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the summer of 2022, he arrived with a grand vision for the Mocs establishing a national presence.
That plan manifested itself with Chattanooga making it to the NCAA Division I Finals for the third time in program history in Woodruff’s inaugural season, climbing 94 spots in the national ranking to finish ranked No. 41 in a year that included four team wins.
After winning two tournaments in his second season two years ago and picking up three more victories last year, another of Woodruff’s plans to elevate UTC’s stature will take place this week at The Honors Course in Ooltewah. The Invitational at The Honors Course will feature some of college golf’s elite teams and individuals in a 54-hole event that will take place with 36 holes on Monday followed by 18 on Tuesday.
“I’ve been dreaming of creating an event like this since I got the job,” Woodruff said. “The Honors Course is such a special place and championship venue. I’m excited to be able to share that with my coaching buddies and some of the top teams and players in the country.”
With the inception of this annual event that will rotate among some of Chattanooga’s revered golf courses, it presents an opportunity to see some of golf’s future stars. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend as play begins both days at 7:40 a.m. going off split tees.
Seven of the top 19 teams in the 2025-26 Bushnell/Golfweek Preseason Coaches’ Poll will be on hand among the 12-team field. Additionally, a dozen of the top 25 individuals listed on the PGA Tour U preseason rankings will be among the participants including three members of last week’s victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad won at Cypress Point.
Teams participating along with their ranking are (2) Auburn, (5) Ole Miss, (7) Virginia, (8) Oklahoma, (12) Vanderbilt, (17) Tennessee, (19) Pepperdine, Clemson, Duke, Marquette, College of Charleston and UTC.
Current NCAA Individual Champion Michael LaSasso of Ole Miss headlines the field of individual competitors. He will be joined by Virginia’s Ben James and Oklahoma’s Jase Summy as members of last week’s victorious U.S. Walker Cup effort at Cypress Point. All three were named to the first team on Golfweek’s preseason All-America squads.
Those among the Second Team All-America roster are Mahanth Chirravuri of Pepperdine, Ryder Cowan of Oklahoma, and Lance Simpson of Tennessee. Third Team members include Josiah Gilbert of Auburn, Bryan Lee of Virginia, Cameron Tankersley of Ole Miss and Vanderbilt’s Wells Williams.
Also competing will be Tennessee sophomore Jackson Herrington, who made it to the finals of the U.S. Amateur last month.
The Mocs’ starting lineup will see the return of Ward Harris, making his debut for the season after sitting out last year with injury following a stellar freshman campaign. Harris will be joined by a foursome making their second start of the year in freshmen Evan Rogers and Griffin Law, junior Camden Braidech and sophomore Thad Whitfield.
UTC will also have three golfers competing as individuals making their initial appearance this season in sophomore Aidan Cohl, freshman Conner Brummitt and junior Dalton Burts.
Tournament Notes:
Dickson Connection: Ole Miss senior Tankersley and Tennessee’s Herrington both hail from Dickson 30 minutes west of Nashville where they were teammates on the Dickson County High School team.
Fifth Time UTC has hosted at The Honors: This will be the fifth time UTC has hosted an event at The Honors Course. Chattanooga previously entertained the NCAA Championships in 1996 and 2010 along with the 2006 Scenic City Invitational and 2020 Scenic City Collegiate.
UTC’s Rogers Seeks to join Jaeger: Rogers, a freshman from Duluth, Ga., hopes to become just the second freshman in UTC history to finish Top 5 in his first two tournaments, joining PGA Tour winner Stephan Jaeger who accomplished the feat in 2012. Rogers finished tied for 5th at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate last weekend which was won by host Tennessee.
The Honors Special to Charleston’s Krywulycz: Returning to The Honors Course will surely resurrect special memories for College of Charleston head coach Mitch Krywulycz. In 2010 while competing for what was then known as Augusta State, he helped lead the Jaguars to the first of back-to-back national titles as The Honors Course hosted the NCAA Championship.
Former UTC Assistant Makes Return Visit: Pepperdine assistant coach Nick Robinson, who served as Woodruff’s assistant his first two years at Chattanooga, will be making a return to the Scenic City this week.
For live scoring and tee times, go to The Invitational at The Honors Course.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com
