University of Tennessee Athletics
Going Back to Cali: Vols at Gifford
November 04, 2013 | Men's Golf
Nov. 4, 2013
The Tennessee men's golf team will wrap up its fall season this week when the Volunteers compete in the Gifford Collegiate Championship in Newport Beach, California.
In the ninth edition of the Gifford Collegiate, Tennessee head coach Jim Kelson knows what it takes to have success at the two-day tournament. Last season, Tennessee senior Rick Lamb won the individual crown after posting an impressive 207 (-6).
The Volunteers hope to replicate that same success on Monday when they play 36 holes of golf. The tournament will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with the final 18 holes. Tournament host UCLA won the team championship two out of the last three years.
Kelson and assistant coach Casey VanDamme will go with a new starting five for the Vols' final tournament of the fall season: Oliver Goss, Brandon Rodgers, Chad Merzbacher, Jack Smith and Michael Monroe.
Merzbacher is coming off one of the best collegiate tournaments of his career. Last month, the sophomore from Dublin, Ohio finished the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate tied for eighth after carding a career-low total of 210.
Meanwhile, Monroe is making his first ever start for the Big Orange. The Franklin, Tenn., native previously played at UT-Chattanooga before walking on at Tennessee. Prior to becoming a Vol, Monroe played in three tournaments for the Mocs with a career best finish of 22nd place.
In the Volunteers' previous three tournaments of the fall, Tennessee has finished tied for eleventh, fourth and seventh. The Big Orange look to continue its streak of consecutive top ten finishes this week in California.
2013 Gifford Collegiate Championship
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Alabama, Coastal Carolina, Lamar, Oregon, Northwestern, Southern Methodist, Tennessee UCLA, USC, Washington
DATES
November 4-5, 2013
COURSE INFORMATION
Pelican Hill North Course - Newport, California - Par 70 - 6,985 yards
HOSTED BY
UCLA
GIFFORD COLLEGIATE FACT SHEET
PAST CHAMPIONS
Individual - Rick Lamb, TENNESSEE - 2012
Team - UCLA - 2012
LIVE SCORING
TENNESSEE'S TEE TIMES
Monday, Nov. 4 - First Round - 7:38 a.m. PT (Pacific) - Paired with Oregon
Monday, Nov. 4 - Second Round - 11:38 a.m. PT - Paired with Oregon
Tuesday, Nov. 5 - Third Round - TBD
VOLS STARTING LINEUP
Oliver Goss
Brandon Rodgers
Chad Merzbacher
Jack Smith
Michael Monroe
For the most up-to-date information about the Vol Golf program, visit UTsports.com/golf and follow @Vol_Golf on Twitter.
