University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, April 3
Franklin, Tenn.
University of Tennessee
vs
Mason Rudolph Championship - Round 1
Photo by: Drew Garrison/Tennessee Athletics
#12/12 Vols in Second Through 18 Holes at Mason Rudolph Championship
April 03, 2026 | Men's Golf
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The No. 12/12 Tennessee men's golf team returned to action on Friday with a strong start at the Mason Rudolph Championship.
The Vols fired a 4-under-par 280 in round one at the Vanderbilt Legends Course to sit in second place among the 15 teams competing.
No. 1 Auburn holds a six-stroke advantage atop the team standings through 18 holes at 10-under-par. Tennessee is two strokes ahead of No. 11 Vanderbilt, who is in third place at 2-under-par, and three strokes ahead of Mississippi State, who was the fourth and final team to shoot under par on Friday at 1-under-par.
The highlight of the day for the Vols was a whirlwind round by Bruce Murphy. After two pars to open the day, the redshirt junior fired four consecutive birdies at holes three through six to shoot 4-under-par on the front nine. The turn on the course also marked a turn in Murphy's play as he carded three bogeys in a row on holes ten through 12, followed by a double bogey at hole No. 13 to sit at 1-over-par with five holes remaining.
Murphy persevered to close the round, firing an eagle at hole No. 17 followed by a birdie at hole No. 18 to end the day with a 2-under-par 69, Tennessee's lowest individual score in round one. Two strokes behind two golfers in the individual lead, Murphy is tied for fifth place in the field of 81 entering Saturday's second round.
Luke Smith and Chase Kyes were the other two Volunteers in red numbers on Friday, as the freshman duo each posted a 1-under-par 70. Smith tallied four birdies to counteract three bogeys, including a strong finish with a birdie at hole No. 18. Kyes totaled three birdies on the day, with the lone blemish of a double bogey at hole No. 10. The pair is tied for 14th place with 36 holes to play.
Lance Simpson wrapped up the countable team scores for Tennessee in round one, carding an even-par 71. The redshirt senior balanced out three bogeys with three birdies, including back-to-back birdies at holes two and three to mark a strong start to the round. Simpson is tied for 22nd place ahead of round two on Saturday.
The Mason Rudolph Championship will resume on Saturday with round two at the Vanderbilt Legends Course.
Mason Rudolph Championship Standings (Round One)
1. Auburn (-10)
2. Tennessee (-4)
3. Vanderbilt (-2)
4. Mississippi State (-1)
T-5. NC State (+2)
T-5. Western Kentucky (+2)
7. Charlotte (+3)
8. Middle Tennessee (+5)
T-9. Ole Miss (+6)
T-9. Furman (+6)
T-11. Kentucky (+7)
T-11. Northern Illinois (+7)
T-11. Vanderbilt (B) (+7)
14. Princeton (+8)
15. Ball State (+23)
Tennessee Results
T-5. Bruce Murphy: 69 (-2)
T-14. Luke Smith: 70 (-1)
T-14. Chase Kyes: 70 (-1)
T-22. Lance Simpson: 71 (E)
T-31. Josh Hill: 72 (+1)
T-70. Reed Lotter (i): 78 (+7)
The Vols fired a 4-under-par 280 in round one at the Vanderbilt Legends Course to sit in second place among the 15 teams competing.
No. 1 Auburn holds a six-stroke advantage atop the team standings through 18 holes at 10-under-par. Tennessee is two strokes ahead of No. 11 Vanderbilt, who is in third place at 2-under-par, and three strokes ahead of Mississippi State, who was the fourth and final team to shoot under par on Friday at 1-under-par.
The highlight of the day for the Vols was a whirlwind round by Bruce Murphy. After two pars to open the day, the redshirt junior fired four consecutive birdies at holes three through six to shoot 4-under-par on the front nine. The turn on the course also marked a turn in Murphy's play as he carded three bogeys in a row on holes ten through 12, followed by a double bogey at hole No. 13 to sit at 1-over-par with five holes remaining.
Murphy persevered to close the round, firing an eagle at hole No. 17 followed by a birdie at hole No. 18 to end the day with a 2-under-par 69, Tennessee's lowest individual score in round one. Two strokes behind two golfers in the individual lead, Murphy is tied for fifth place in the field of 81 entering Saturday's second round.
Luke Smith and Chase Kyes were the other two Volunteers in red numbers on Friday, as the freshman duo each posted a 1-under-par 70. Smith tallied four birdies to counteract three bogeys, including a strong finish with a birdie at hole No. 18. Kyes totaled three birdies on the day, with the lone blemish of a double bogey at hole No. 10. The pair is tied for 14th place with 36 holes to play.
Lance Simpson wrapped up the countable team scores for Tennessee in round one, carding an even-par 71. The redshirt senior balanced out three bogeys with three birdies, including back-to-back birdies at holes two and three to mark a strong start to the round. Simpson is tied for 22nd place ahead of round two on Saturday.
The Mason Rudolph Championship will resume on Saturday with round two at the Vanderbilt Legends Course.
Mason Rudolph Championship Standings (Round One)
1. Auburn (-10)
2. Tennessee (-4)
3. Vanderbilt (-2)
4. Mississippi State (-1)
T-5. NC State (+2)
T-5. Western Kentucky (+2)
7. Charlotte (+3)
8. Middle Tennessee (+5)
T-9. Ole Miss (+6)
T-9. Furman (+6)
T-11. Kentucky (+7)
T-11. Northern Illinois (+7)
T-11. Vanderbilt (B) (+7)
14. Princeton (+8)
15. Ball State (+23)
Tennessee Results
T-5. Bruce Murphy: 69 (-2)
T-14. Luke Smith: 70 (-1)
T-14. Chase Kyes: 70 (-1)
T-22. Lance Simpson: 71 (E)
T-31. Josh Hill: 72 (+1)
T-70. Reed Lotter (i): 78 (+7)
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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