Playoff gives UT golf title

Tennessee and Oregon State began the final round of the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate golf tournament in a deadlock Sunday.

They ended that way, too. The Vols were declared the winner in a scorecard tiebreaker at The Ridges course in Jonesborough.

The Vols and Beavers teed off at 6-under par and both shot 281 on Sunday to finish at 3-under 861.

UT's scorecard win was based on its fifth player, Justin Walker, shot a 77, while Oregon State's fifth player, Mike Barry, finished at 78, bogeying the 18th hole.

Virginia finished third at 863.

"We just love this tournament and everything about it,'' said UT coach Jim Kelson. "I was proud of the run we made and our guys showed a lot of focus at the end.

"We didn't play our best golf but we were able to play pretty solid coming in.''

Darren Renwick's closing 72 for 213 left him in a three-way tie for second, seven strokes behind medalist Diego Velasquez of Oregon State.

Renwick sank a putt from nearly 40 feet for birdie on the 18th.

David Holmes (76) tied for 11th at 215. Bunched in a tie for 16th at 222 were Garrick Porteous (76), Jay Vandeventer (74) and Walker (77).

Volleyball: Nikki Fowler recorded her team-high sixth double-double of the season Sunday as Tennessee swept Mississippi State at Starkville, Miss.

UT (14-5, 7-2 SEC) notched its fourth consecutive SEC victory, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22.

Fowler, a junior, had 16 kills and 10 digs, her 24th career double-double.

Chloe Goldman had a match-high 17 digs to add to her school career-leading total. Kyle Marshall added 10 digs.

Farren Powe had 11 kills on 16 swings, a .668 hitting percentage.

"I was happy with our focus at the beginning of the match,'' coach Rob Patrick said. "This is something this team has been working on and improved since our Friday match."

Mississippi State fell to 5-16, 1-9.

The Lady Vols travel to Kentucky on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match to be televised by ESPNU.

Rowing: Tennessee finished 12th in a field of 32 boats in the Championship 8-plus race at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.