Bryce Lewis got back into the winner’s circle over the Independence Day holiday weekend, winning the 70th Golden Isles Invitational finishing 16-under Par. He defeated Eli Scott by one stroke in a one-hole playoff.
His victory is his first outside of junior golf.
“It was a good relief to get back to winning,” he said. “The win boosted my confidence a bit. I did not have my A-game this week, but mentally I was there. I knew if I kept my head straight and played the golf course like I should and not make too many bogeys, I would give myself a chance to win.”
Lewis is heading into his third year academically at the University of Tennessee but will be a freshman on the course.
After redshirting his freshman year, Lewis returned this year for his first year of eligibility until COVID-19 shutdown sports across the country.
With the NCAA granting athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, he is one of three Volunteer golfers who will be a three-year freshman.
During this time, Lewis has switched his major for marketing to sports management to hope that more time outside the classroom will allow him to grow into a better golfer.
He is unsure of where he wants his major to take him instead of saying he hopes to make it on the PGA Tour.
“Playing on the (PGA) Tour has always been my goal,” he said. “I have always had the talent to do it; it comes down to putting in the hours and practice to get it done.”
During his high school days at Hendersonville, former head coach Andy Gilley said you could see the potential in him.
“I met Bryce when he was in 7th grade and knew then he would be one heck of a golfer,” Gilley said. “You can’t ever predict that someone will make it to the PGA Tour, but it was clear in high school he had a chance to do some special things. I fully expect to see him playing golf on television one day.”
Lewis initially committed to further his golf career at Middle Tennessee State University to play for now University of Tennessee Head Coach Brennan Webb, but when Webb left for Knoxville, Lewis knew he needed to follow him.
“Coach Webb and Coach Andrews are two of the best golf coaches in the country, and I knew I had to play for him,” Lewis said. “When I got to Tennessee, my game improved greatly. From the day I got here, everyone on the team has gotten incredibly better, which is due to the coaches.”
Now that he has spent two years on campus perfecting his craft in what he calls ‘high-class facilities,’ Lewis is ready to take his third year by storm.
“So much of our improvement goes into our facilities, and we are so grateful for these extra assets the University gives us. I would not say golf is a little sport, but in comparison to say football or basketball we are and for the University to care about us to get us the best facilities in the country means a lot to us. We are extremely grateful. It is hard not to get better when you have the amenities we do.”
Next up for Lewis on the course will be competing with “my old man” Trey Lewis for the Tennessee 4-ball tournament at Fox Den in Knoxville.
“He told me he would practice more, so he doesn’t have to carry me the whole weekend,” Lewis said. “The goal is to make it to match play, and if we do that, I think we will be a good team to be. It will be a fun time.”
Lewis will compete in two more invitationals before his season begins in Knoxville. He will head down to Columbus, Georgia, July 21-23, to compete in the Southeastern Amateur Invitational before playing in Chattanooga July 27-29 at the Choo-Choo Invitational.
He says team goals are lofty for this year, competing for an SEC and National Championship are at the top of the list.
“Those are real possibilities for this team,” he said. “We have a solid group of guys who push each other to be great each day.”
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