PALM HARBOR, Fla./ROCKVALE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's golf team concluded its fall season with appearances at The Invite at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida, and the Music City Collegiate in Rockvale, Tennessee. The Firehawks continued their consistent play throughout the fall, earning top-16 finishes in both events while being led by standout performances from Nico Garcia, Ethan Lunsford, and Tyler Wilson.
The Invite at Innisbrook
UT Southern competed against one of the strongest fields of the season at The Invite at Innisbrook and finished 16th among 20 teams with a three-round score of 907 (302-302-303).
The Firehawks showcased remarkable consistency, posting nearly identical scores across all three rounds while competing against several nationally ranked programs.
Nico Garcia led UT Southern with a tie for 34th-place finish. The freshman carded rounds of 72, 76, and 77 to finish at 225 (+12), pacing the Firehawks against a loaded national field.
Ethan Lunsford was close behind, tying for 41st at 226 (+13). Lunsford improved throughout the tournament and closed with a final-round 73, the lowest round by a Firehawk during the event.
Leo-Paul Cesari finished tied for 68th at 229 (+16), while Jack Stowe tied for 76th at 231 (+18). Tyler Wilson rounded out the lineup with a tie for 78th at 232 (+19).
Keiser claimed the tournament championship with an 861 (+9), while Reinhardt finished second at 869 (+17).
UT Southern Results – The Invite at Innisbrook
T-34. Nico Garcia – 225 (72-76-77)
T-41. Ethan Lunsford – 226 (77-76-73)
T-68. Leo-Paul Cesari – 229 (77-76-76)
T-76. Jack Stowe – 231 (76-76-79)
T-78. Tyler Wilson – 232 (81-74-77)
Music City Collegiate
The Firehawks closed the fall season at the Music City Collegiate, hosted by Cumberland at Champions Run Golf Course in Rockvale, Tennessee.
UT Southern finished 11th in a highly competitive 19-team field with a score of 886 (299-295-292), improving its team score in each round and ending the tournament with its best performance on the final day.
Nico Garcia once again led the Firehawks, tying for 22nd overall with a 219 (+3). Garcia posted rounds of 72, 73, and 74 to record his third top-25 finish of the fall season.
Ethan Lunsford continued his strong play with a tie for 29th after shooting 220 (+4). The sophomore recorded rounds of 73, 75, and 72.
Tyler Wilson turned in another solid performance, tying for 43rd at 225 (+9), while Leo-Paul Cesari finished tied for 47th at 226 (+10). Cesari closed the tournament with a 1-under-par 71, the Firehawks' lowest round of the event.
Jack Stowe rounded out the lineup with a tie for 85th finish at 236 (+20).
Bethel (Tenn.) won the team title at 860 (-4), while Grand View's Harrison Froling earned medalist honors at 208 (-8).
UT Southern Results – Music City Collegiate
T-22. Nico Garcia – 219 (72-73-74)
T-29. Ethan Lunsford – 220 (73-75-72)
T-43. Tyler Wilson – 225 (77-73-75)
T-47. Leo-Paul Cesari – 226 (81-74-71)
T-85. Jack Stowe – 236 (77-77-82)
The Firehawks wrap up the fall season with a strong body of work that included a runner-up finish at the Firehawk Fall Invitational, a fourth-place finish at the Wildcat Fall Invitational, and multiple top-25 performances from Nico Garcia throughout the semester. Garcia also earned SSAC Men's Golfer of the Week honors during the fall campaign.
UT Southern will now shift its focus to the spring season heading towards the 2027 SSAC Men's Golf Championship and postseason competition.
