University of Tennessee Athletics
Wednesday, February 11
Rio Grand, Puerto Rico
University of Tennessee
vs
Puerto Rico Classic - Round 3
Photo by: Elliot Walker/Tennessee Athletics
#17/20 Vols Earn Top Three Finish at Puerto Rico Classic to Open Spring Season
February 11, 2026 | Men's Golf
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – The #17/20 Tennessee men's golf team wrapped up its first tournament of the spring on Wednesday, posting a top-three finish among a strong field of 15 teams at the Puerto Rico Classic.
The Vols tallied a 10-under-par team score in round three to climb into the top three at 36-under-par. Tennessee finished behind tournament champion #1 Virginia, which posted an impressive final tally of 55-under-par, and runners-up LSU, which ended the event one stroke ahead of the Vols at 37-under-par.
Lance Simpson opened the final spring season of his collegiate career with a strong message, posting a top-five finish at 14-under-par. The Knoxville native carded his second bogey-free 5-under-par 67 of the tournament in Wednesday's final round to tie for fifth place among the field of 85 golfers. Simpson posted five birdies on Wednesday, two of which were inches away from being eagles, and only one bogey, which was tied for the least among all competing golfers.
After some struggles in round two on Tuesday, Reed Lotter responded with Tennessee's second-best round of the day on Wednesday. The senior recorded a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 for his best round of the week, climbing 17 spots to a tie for 60th place to end the tournament.
Jackson Herrington and Luke Smith each posted round of 1-under-par on Wednesday to close the Puerto Rico Classic at 6-under-par and tied for 29th place. With the duo rounding out the team score, all four of the Vols countable scores in each round of the event were under par.
After a career day in Tuesday's second round, Josh Hill posted an even-par 72 to wrap up the Puerto Rico Classic at 7-under-par, tying for 23rd place.
Bruce Murphy, who competed as an individual this week, wrapped up his tournament with a 2-over-par 74 in round three to finish at 2-under-par and tied for 48th place. Murphy tallied 17 birdies across 54 holes, tied for the fourth most in the field.
The Vols will return to action in early March, as another tropical destination awaits at the Cabo Collegiate, set for Mar. 2-4.
Puerto Rico Classic Standings (Final)
1. Virginia (-55)
2. LSU (-37)
3. Tennessee (-36)
4. Oklahoma (-33)
5. South Carolina (-31)
T-6. Ohio State (-28)
T-6 Charleston (-28)
8. Georgia (-27)
9. Iowa (-24)
10. Marquette (-22)
11. Louisville (-20)
12. Minnesota (-16)
13. Purdue (-9)
14. Wisconsin (-7)
15. North Florida (+1)
Tennessee Results (Final)
T-5. Lance Simpson: 67-68-67 = 202 (-14)
T-23. Josh Hill: 71-66-72 = 209 (-7)
T-29. Jackson Herrington: 70-69-71 = 210 (-6)
T-29. Luke Smith: 68-71-71 = 210 (-6)
T-48. Bruce Murphy (i): 68-72-74 = 214 (-2)
T-60. Reed Lotter: 71-76-69 = 216 (E)
The Vols tallied a 10-under-par team score in round three to climb into the top three at 36-under-par. Tennessee finished behind tournament champion #1 Virginia, which posted an impressive final tally of 55-under-par, and runners-up LSU, which ended the event one stroke ahead of the Vols at 37-under-par.
Lance Simpson opened the final spring season of his collegiate career with a strong message, posting a top-five finish at 14-under-par. The Knoxville native carded his second bogey-free 5-under-par 67 of the tournament in Wednesday's final round to tie for fifth place among the field of 85 golfers. Simpson posted five birdies on Wednesday, two of which were inches away from being eagles, and only one bogey, which was tied for the least among all competing golfers.
After some struggles in round two on Tuesday, Reed Lotter responded with Tennessee's second-best round of the day on Wednesday. The senior recorded a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 for his best round of the week, climbing 17 spots to a tie for 60th place to end the tournament.
Jackson Herrington and Luke Smith each posted round of 1-under-par on Wednesday to close the Puerto Rico Classic at 6-under-par and tied for 29th place. With the duo rounding out the team score, all four of the Vols countable scores in each round of the event were under par.
After a career day in Tuesday's second round, Josh Hill posted an even-par 72 to wrap up the Puerto Rico Classic at 7-under-par, tying for 23rd place.
Bruce Murphy, who competed as an individual this week, wrapped up his tournament with a 2-over-par 74 in round three to finish at 2-under-par and tied for 48th place. Murphy tallied 17 birdies across 54 holes, tied for the fourth most in the field.
The Vols will return to action in early March, as another tropical destination awaits at the Cabo Collegiate, set for Mar. 2-4.
Puerto Rico Classic Standings (Final)
1. Virginia (-55)
2. LSU (-37)
3. Tennessee (-36)
4. Oklahoma (-33)
5. South Carolina (-31)
T-6. Ohio State (-28)
T-6 Charleston (-28)
8. Georgia (-27)
9. Iowa (-24)
10. Marquette (-22)
11. Louisville (-20)
12. Minnesota (-16)
13. Purdue (-9)
14. Wisconsin (-7)
15. North Florida (+1)
Tennessee Results (Final)
T-5. Lance Simpson: 67-68-67 = 202 (-14)
T-23. Josh Hill: 71-66-72 = 209 (-7)
T-29. Jackson Herrington: 70-69-71 = 210 (-6)
T-29. Luke Smith: 68-71-71 = 210 (-6)
T-48. Bruce Murphy (i): 68-72-74 = 214 (-2)
T-60. Reed Lotter: 71-76-69 = 216 (E)
Players Mentioned
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