Tee To Green LMU Golf Spring 24

Welcome Back to Tee to Green!

Thank you to those who are returning and welcome to those who are joining Tee to Green for the first time! Tee to Green is a bi-yearly newsletter to update 1897 Club members, as well as friends and family of the LMU Golf Programs!

FROM HEAD COACH BRAD ROBINSON

Completing my first year as a Head Coach has been one filled with emotion, excitement and challenges! Both programs have had outstanding years combining for 6 Team wins, 2 individual wins, 7 All-South Atlantic Conference nominees, 1 SAC Player of the Year, 3 All-Region performers, and 3 All-Americans, to name just a few. Both programs have reached new heights with success on the golf course, in the class room and within our community. Our goal as a program is not only to pursue excellence on the course but in the classroom, at the same time giving back to the community that provides us with so much. Our Men's team finished the year with a 3.51 Team GPA while the women finished the year with an impressive 3.70 Team GPA all while completing numerous community service projects and pursing excellence as an athlete.

I would like to say a special thank you to our seniors that have given so much over the course of their careers and we wish them nothing but the best in the real world! We thank them for being outstanding members of LMU Golf taking the program to new heights and paving the way for future LMU Golfers.

The 1897 Golf club

The 1897 Golf Club was a new initiative started in the spring of 2024. The 1897 club allows supporters to directly impact LMU Golf's Student-Athletes. Below are some memorable experiences that the Men's and Women's Golf team have enjoyed because of the generous contributions of The 1897 Club! We would love to continue to grow The 1897 Club into being one of the premier supporting clubs across all divisions to allow our student-athletes to have the best experiences in the country!

Spring 2024 Experiences Thanks to The 1897 Club

LMU Women's Golf enjoying the afternoon at Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island, SC
LMU Men's Golf attending the Henderson Silver Knights game while competing in Las Vegas.
LMU Men's Golf Supporting the Blue Wahoo's in Pensacola, FL.
Our Senior Banquet Hosted at Woodlake Golf and Lodge for our 2024 Seniors!

Alumni Spotlight

Dr. Lindsay (Davis) Haywood '15,'16,'19

Dr. Lindsay Haywood Profile

Years Played: 2011-2015

Years Coached: 2015-2016

Class of 2015: BBA in Professional Golf Management

Class of 2016: Master of Business Administration

Class of 2019: Doctor of Business Administration in Sport management

What is Your Favorite LMU Memory?

Winning conference as an individual at Sevierville Golf Club on the River course as a senior and having Coach Travis and Coach Maria with me all 18 holes. Also traveling with my teammates to various courses such as Pinehurst.

How Has LMU Impacted You?

My time at LMU was invaluable to my career development on and off the golf course. LMU women’s golf alumni will always hold a special place in my heart, as we truly had the best of times! I love keeping up with the LMU Golf team throughout the season. LMU not only prepared me to continue playing golf for fun after college but also catapulted my professional career. I was named Dr. R. Martin Peters Young Alumnus of the Year of 2023 and inducted into the LMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. I am an active member in the Middlesboro Ladies Golf League and still play competitively during tournament season! I met Justin, my husband, at LMU and we were married in the Elizabeth D. Chinnock Chapel on campus! We have a 20-month-old son, Beau Steven, who loves golf and baseball!

LMU MEN'S GOLF finish the 2023-2024 Ranked #2 in the nation

While coming up just shy of our ultimate goals The Men's program had a year to remember. The Program boasted 4 team victories, a 5th South Atlantic Conference Championship, and an 8th straight bid to the NCAA tournament.

Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate

Senior Alex James led the team with a 6th place finish to help the Railsplitters to a 3rd place finish falling to #1 UNG and #18 Lander.

Las Vegas Desert Classic

Durkan leads the Railsplitters with a 4th place finish as LMU golf knocks off 8 top 25 programs to claim the Las Vegas Desert Classic Title.

First Federal Southeastern Collegiate

Durkan leads the Railsplitters to another top 3 finish in a strong South/South East field. The Railsplitters fought hard on day 3 but came up a little shy of the tournament win.

The Tennessee River Rumble

Durkan Leads the Railsplitters to their 2nd win of the spring with his third straight top 5 finish. The Railsplitters knocked off #1 North Georgia as well as 6 other top 25 teams. The Railsplitters came from behind to clinch a 1 shot victory in the pouring rain to claim their third team title of the year.

Argonaut Invitational

Alex James Leads the Railsplitters to an 8th place finish as a team and individually with an impressive round of the day 67.

South Atlantic Conference Championship

LMU Golf comes from behind to win the programs 5th South Atlantic Conference championship by 10 shots!

lmu women's golf finishes the 2023-2024 season ranked #34

LMU Women's golf enjoyed what could be considered as the best year in school history! The Railsplitters broke the school record for team scoring average with a Team Average of 306.5 breaking the current school record by 2.7 shots per round! LMU women's golf boasted back to back tournament wins in the fall for the first time in school history as well as finishing the fall semester inside the nations top 25 ranked teams reaching #23. The spring was equally successful with the Railsplitters having their best finish in The SAC Championship since 2012, Dilyara Bulambayeva winning The SAC Championship as an individual and Lauren Martin making the NCAA tournament as an individual. It is safe to say LMU Women's golf is on the right track and building for the future.

2024 Spring Kickoff Intercollegiate

Lauren Martin leads the Railsplitters to a 4th place finish finishing as tournament runner-up.

2024 Battle at Hilton Head

Senior Lauren Martin Leads the Railsplitters with a 3rd place finish and back to back 3rd place finishes.

Jerry Surratt Memorial

Senior Carley Downhour cards a personal 73 in round one to get the Railsplitters off to a good start.

Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate

Mathieson and Martin lead the Railsplitters a 3rd place finish in a D1 field with a pair of top-5 finishes.

Lady Bearcat Classic

Mathieson and Martin finish top-5 back to back tournaments to round out the regular season.

South Atlantic Conference Championship

Dilyara Bulambayeva becomes the 2nd women's golfer in school history to win an individual conference championship joining Dr. Lindsay (Davis) Haywood.
LMU Women's Golf finish 3rd in the SAC Championship for the 2nd best finish in school history and best finish since 2012. We can't thank our 4 seniors Carley, Caitlin, Lauren and Olivia enough for their hard work and commitment to LMU Golf!

NCAA South Regional - Lauren Martin

Senior Lauren Martin earns an individual birth to the NCAA tournament. Martin finishes her career as the most accomplished LMU Women's golfer breaking the school scoring average record amongst many others!

Men's Golf 2024 Fall Schedule

Women's Golf 2024 Fall Schedule

Men's Golf Individual Highlights

Women's Golf Individual Highlights

LMU Golf Class Of 2024

Senior Spotlight

Jantai Malataev, What's Next?: Transferring to Queen's University, Charlotte to complete his 5th year of eligibility and complete his MBA.
Cade Preston, What's Next?: Currently enrolled at LMU in Physical Therapy School
Alex James, What's Next?: Playing full time amateur golf in the UK before launching his professional career.
Lauren Martin, What's Next?: Remaining in college athletics, accepted a position as a women's golf coach at The University of Montevallo.
Caitlin Thomas, What's Next?: Returned to the UK and accepted a position working in the golf industry.
Carley Downhour, What's Next?: Working in the healthcare field before applying to PA School next year.
Olivia Nichols, What's Next?: Pursing her PHD in Psychology at East Tennessee State University.

LMU Golf Facility Upgrades

We are extremely fortunate to have some of the best golf facilities in the nation located right on campus. We as a program strive to make upgrades to the facility each year. This year we re-seeded one of our putting and pitching areas to enhance the short game facility located at the driving range end of the facility.

Removing the top of the old green
Re-shaping and contouring the new green
New Green seeded with Bent Grass
10-Days in
First Roll
First Mow
6 week update
2-month progress