By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MADISON, Ill. – Sophomore Dax Isbell carded a final-round 64 on the way to a 197 (-16) – setting new records for both scores in the 12-year history of the SIUE Dolenc Invitational – to top the field of 92 players and help the University of Tennessee at Martin golf team to another strong tournament finish today.
Isbell’s Round 3 scorecard did not include a bogey until his 16th hole and featured eight red scores – notching four birdies apiece on the front- and back-nine’s. His 64 matched SIUE’s Anthony Ruthey’s Round 2 score from yesterday as the lowest in tournament history. Trailing Ruthey by three strokes heading into today’s final round, Isbell birdied seven of eight holes during one stretch and coasted to the finish line, winning the event by four shots over Missouri State’s Hampus Wijkstrom (who finished first in last week’s Grover Page Classic).
A Cumming, Ga. native, Isbell became the first Skyhawk to win a tournament since Tate Chumley (209, -7) at the TVA Community Credit Union Invitational hosted by North Alabama on Oct. 18-19, 2021. His composite score of 197 (-16) was two strokes better than the previous SIUE Dolenc Invitational record-holder (Jordan Rykal of South Dakota in 2015) and was the first sub-200 score for a UT Martin golfer since Jack Story (195, -18) at the Murray State Invitational on Sept. 9-10, 2019.
Isbell wrapped up his first collegiate victory by ranking first in the field in par-4 scoring (3.74, -7), first in eagles (two), second in birdies (17), third in par-5 scoring (4.33, -8) and fifth in par-3 scoring (2.93, -1).
“I couldn’t be happier for Dax,” Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford said. “He works incredibly hard, loves the game and loves for his teammates to do well also. I think this is the first of multiple wins during his career.”
As a team, UT Martin pieced together another low score with a 279 (-5) in Round 3 – finishing the 54-hole event with an 829 (-23). That marked the first time in the school’s NCAA Division I history (since 1992) that the Skyhawks have shot at least 20-under par in back-to-back tournaments. UT Martin was a dozen shots clear of third-place New Orleans and finished as runner-up behind tournament host SIUE (818, -34).
“I am super pleased with how we stuck to our process and strategy this week,” Swafford said. “I felt like the guys committed and stayed patient during this tournament and the results show that.”
Ethan Ray and Jonathan Xoinis each rolled in four birdies apiece and shot even-par 71’s during Round 3. Grant Phillips also registered four birdies while Jacob Uehlein had a pair of birdies as that duo each recorded a 73 to complete the team scoring.
Competing as individuals, Luke Caldwell carded three birdies on the back-nine and finished with a 73 while Bryson Morrell contributed two birdies to his final score of 79.
Overall, Uehlein finished with a team-best 39 pars on the way to a 212 (-1). Ray shot an even-par 213 and was followed by Phillips (214, +1), Xoinis (217, +4), Caldwell (219, +6) and Morrell (221, +8).
The Skyhawks compete for the third straight week when they make the short drive to Jonesboro, Ark. for the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate, hosted by Arkansas State on Monday, Oct. 2 through Tuesday, Oct. 3.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information
