The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, September 8
Knoxville, Tenn. | Tennessee National Course
Ole Miss
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Visit Knoxville Collegiate
Men’s Golf Tees Off 2023-24 Season in Knoxville
9/7/2023 | Men's Golf
Rebels Open Season on the Tennessee National Course
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Ole Miss men's golf team's season runs through the Southeastern Conference as it will begin its fall 2023 slate in Knoxville, Tennessee at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate. The No. 24 Rebels hope to continue their strong play after their last season ended at the NCAA Norman Regional.
The debut three-day tournament hosted by the Tennessee Volunteers will compete on the par 70 Tennessee National Course from Friday to Sunday.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 8 – 18 holes (Rebels tee off beginning at 10:35 a.m. CT)
Saturday, Sept. 9 – 18 holes
Sunday, Sept. 10 – 18 holes
THE LINEUP
Michael La Sasso (So.)
• Transfer from NC State
• Recorded a 72.19 stroke average during his freshman campaign
• Put in 10 par or better rounds in his nine tournament appearances
• Finished in the top-25 at the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional for the Wolfpack
• Competed at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, making the cut of 64 players to match play
Tim Tillmanns (Sr.)
• Four-year letter-winner from Kansas State
• Has 32 career tournaments played under his belt
• Logged a 71.85 career stroke average
• Earned six top-20 finishes, including five top-10 and two top-5 finishes, in his 11 tournament appearances in his senior season
• Shot a career-best 70.21 season stroke average in the 2022-23 year
Tom Fischer (So.)
• Competed in three tournaments during his freshman campaign
• Recorded a 72.75 stroke average
• Put in an eagle in every tournament he competed in
• Shot a season-low round score of 67 at SEC Fall Preview
Patton Samuels (So.)
• Earned a starting lineup spot in 10 tournaments during his first year as a Rebel
• Finished his rookie season with a 72.17 stroke average
• Chipped in 86 birdies overall in his freshman year
• Netted a season-best finish at the Mason Rudolph Championship at tied for 15th
• Had a standout first round at the Ka'anapali Classic, shooting a season-low-18 score of 66
Cameron Tankersley (So.)
• Earned a spot on the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team
• Competed in all 12 tournaments in his freshman season
• Finished his rookie season with a 71.74 stroke average
• Put in 119 birdies in his freshman year
• Placed in the top-20 six times, top-10 three times, and top-5 once
Kye Meeks (Jr.) (Individual)
• Competed in seven tournaments for the 2022-23 season
• Shot for a 72.00 stroke average
• Grabbed two career-low rounds of 67 last season at 2022 Ka'anapali Classic and 2023 Mossy Oak Collegiate
• Earned career-best 54-hole score of 210 at 2023 Mossy Oak Collegiate
• Finished in the top-20 in three tournaments over career
THE FIELD
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Clemson
UConn
ETSU
No. 21 Mississippi State
Nebraska
North Florida
No. 24 Ole Miss
No. 12 Tennessee
Toledo
USF
Virginia Tech
Wisconsin
THE COURSE
Ranked as one of the top 10 courses in the Volunteer State, the Tennessee National Course is a 7,280-yard par 70 course. With five sets of tees, generous landing areas, and a walkable layout, the Greg Norman Signature course is uniquely playable, yet challenging to accomplished golfers.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH MALLOY
"This is always a very exciting time of the year. I know that our squad is ready to get back into tournament play and stop competing against our own group. This course will pose a great challenge both off the tee and into the greens and show us where we are as a team."
RANKED REBS
Ole Miss earned preseason nods from The Golf Coaches Association of America with the ranking of No. 24 in the nation. The GCAA unveiled the Bushnell/Golfweek preseason poll, slotting the Rebels inside the preseason top 25. Ole Miss is one of eight SEC schools that made the cut.
ROAD TO CARLSBAD STARTS NOW
During the 2022-23 season, the Rebels wrote their names in the history books as they broke the program record for the lowest total for a single round at the 2022 SEC Match Play Championship with a 268 score. Ole Miss finished in the top 10 in all 12 tournaments, including six finishes in the top five, with the help of a program-best 22 rounds under par and 25 rounds par or better on the season. With their in-season success, the Rebels went on to punch their sixth straight ticket to the postseason, competing at the 2023 NCAA Norman Regional. Ole Miss' six consecutive trips to NCAA Regionals mark the longest streak in program history.
#TRANSFERTOTHESIP
After losing its top two players, Hugo Townsend and Sarut Vongchaisit, Malloy dipped into the transfer portal, grabbing senior Tim Tillmanns from Kansas State and sophomore Michael La Sasso from NC State. Tillmanns comes to Oxford having 32 career tournaments played underneath his belt, logging a 71.85 career stroke average. La Sasso is currently coming off a recent appearance at the U.S. Amateur where he made the cut of 64 to qualify for match play after finishing in the top-20 in stroke play.
SOPH(FOUR)MORES
All four sophomores will be appearing in the lineup for the opening weekend of the fall 2023 season. The four Rebels combine for a 72.21 stroke average. Even though they are still in the underclassmen profile, La Sasso, Fischer Samuels, and Tankersley all provide veteran experience with 34 tournament appearances combined.
NEXT ON THE TEE
Following this weekend's stint in Knoxville, Ole Miss will keep the SEC streak alive by traveling to Birmingham, Alabama to begin play in the SEC Fall Preview (Sep. 25-27).
FOLLOW THE REBELS
For updates throughout the season, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf. Additional updates and information on the team can be found on Instagram at OleMissMGolf, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf and on OleMissSports.com.
The debut three-day tournament hosted by the Tennessee Volunteers will compete on the par 70 Tennessee National Course from Friday to Sunday.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 8 – 18 holes (Rebels tee off beginning at 10:35 a.m. CT)
Saturday, Sept. 9 – 18 holes
Sunday, Sept. 10 – 18 holes
THE LINEUP
Michael La Sasso (So.)
• Transfer from NC State
• Recorded a 72.19 stroke average during his freshman campaign
• Put in 10 par or better rounds in his nine tournament appearances
• Finished in the top-25 at the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional for the Wolfpack
• Competed at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, making the cut of 64 players to match play
Tim Tillmanns (Sr.)
• Four-year letter-winner from Kansas State
• Has 32 career tournaments played under his belt
• Logged a 71.85 career stroke average
• Earned six top-20 finishes, including five top-10 and two top-5 finishes, in his 11 tournament appearances in his senior season
• Shot a career-best 70.21 season stroke average in the 2022-23 year
Tom Fischer (So.)
• Competed in three tournaments during his freshman campaign
• Recorded a 72.75 stroke average
• Put in an eagle in every tournament he competed in
• Shot a season-low round score of 67 at SEC Fall Preview
Patton Samuels (So.)
• Earned a starting lineup spot in 10 tournaments during his first year as a Rebel
• Finished his rookie season with a 72.17 stroke average
• Chipped in 86 birdies overall in his freshman year
• Netted a season-best finish at the Mason Rudolph Championship at tied for 15th
• Had a standout first round at the Ka'anapali Classic, shooting a season-low-18 score of 66
Cameron Tankersley (So.)
• Earned a spot on the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team
• Competed in all 12 tournaments in his freshman season
• Finished his rookie season with a 71.74 stroke average
• Put in 119 birdies in his freshman year
• Placed in the top-20 six times, top-10 three times, and top-5 once
Kye Meeks (Jr.) (Individual)
• Competed in seven tournaments for the 2022-23 season
• Shot for a 72.00 stroke average
• Grabbed two career-low rounds of 67 last season at 2022 Ka'anapali Classic and 2023 Mossy Oak Collegiate
• Earned career-best 54-hole score of 210 at 2023 Mossy Oak Collegiate
• Finished in the top-20 in three tournaments over career
THE FIELD
Charlotte
Cincinnati
Clemson
UConn
ETSU
No. 21 Mississippi State
Nebraska
North Florida
No. 24 Ole Miss
No. 12 Tennessee
Toledo
USF
Virginia Tech
Wisconsin
THE COURSE
Ranked as one of the top 10 courses in the Volunteer State, the Tennessee National Course is a 7,280-yard par 70 course. With five sets of tees, generous landing areas, and a walkable layout, the Greg Norman Signature course is uniquely playable, yet challenging to accomplished golfers.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH MALLOY
"This is always a very exciting time of the year. I know that our squad is ready to get back into tournament play and stop competing against our own group. This course will pose a great challenge both off the tee and into the greens and show us where we are as a team."
RANKED REBS
Ole Miss earned preseason nods from The Golf Coaches Association of America with the ranking of No. 24 in the nation. The GCAA unveiled the Bushnell/Golfweek preseason poll, slotting the Rebels inside the preseason top 25. Ole Miss is one of eight SEC schools that made the cut.
ROAD TO CARLSBAD STARTS NOW
During the 2022-23 season, the Rebels wrote their names in the history books as they broke the program record for the lowest total for a single round at the 2022 SEC Match Play Championship with a 268 score. Ole Miss finished in the top 10 in all 12 tournaments, including six finishes in the top five, with the help of a program-best 22 rounds under par and 25 rounds par or better on the season. With their in-season success, the Rebels went on to punch their sixth straight ticket to the postseason, competing at the 2023 NCAA Norman Regional. Ole Miss' six consecutive trips to NCAA Regionals mark the longest streak in program history.
#TRANSFERTOTHESIP
After losing its top two players, Hugo Townsend and Sarut Vongchaisit, Malloy dipped into the transfer portal, grabbing senior Tim Tillmanns from Kansas State and sophomore Michael La Sasso from NC State. Tillmanns comes to Oxford having 32 career tournaments played underneath his belt, logging a 71.85 career stroke average. La Sasso is currently coming off a recent appearance at the U.S. Amateur where he made the cut of 64 to qualify for match play after finishing in the top-20 in stroke play.
SOPH(FOUR)MORES
All four sophomores will be appearing in the lineup for the opening weekend of the fall 2023 season. The four Rebels combine for a 72.21 stroke average. Even though they are still in the underclassmen profile, La Sasso, Fischer Samuels, and Tankersley all provide veteran experience with 34 tournament appearances combined.
NEXT ON THE TEE
Following this weekend's stint in Knoxville, Ole Miss will keep the SEC streak alive by traveling to Birmingham, Alabama to begin play in the SEC Fall Preview (Sep. 25-27).
FOLLOW THE REBELS
For updates throughout the season, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMGolf. Additional updates and information on the team can be found on Instagram at OleMissMGolf, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men's Golf and on OleMissSports.com.
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