Rudy Sautron's 63 Fuels Tennessee's Comeback Win at Home

Nebraska transfer Rudy Sautron was expected to make an impact for Tennessee this season. It arrived in his very first start.

Sautron signed for a 7-under 63 in the final round of the Visit Knoxville Collegiate at Fox Den Country Club on Tuesday, helping the Volunteers erase a six-shot deficit and win their home opener for the second straight year. Tennessee carded a 14-under final round, the best score of the day by eight strokes, and beat Memphis by four shots for the team title.

How did Tennessee close the gap?

Sautron finished second individually, one shot behind Chattanooga's Evan Rogers, who took medalist honors at 10 under. Teammate Jackson Herrington tied for seventh, freshman Pennson Badgett shot 2-under 68, and Christian Pardue added a 69. Tennessee made the run without its No. 1 player, Tyler Watts, the world's third-ranked amateur, who was competing at the Walker Cup in Ireland.

North Carolina sophomore Carson Bertagnole, a preseason All-American, finished third at 8 under. Georgia's Mason Howell, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, opened his college career tied for 23rd, while Liberty freshman Noah Maclauchlan, the 2026 U.S. Junior champion, made his own debut tied for 36th.