Over the last four years, Robin Windgardh was the undisputed leader of the Tennessee men's golf team. But graduation has come and gone, and the former Big Orange weapon is now a pro in his home country of Sweden.
"Robin has been a huge part of our program over the last four years and we will miss him immensely," said UT head coach Jim Kelson at the conclusion of the 2011 NCAA Men's Golf Championship. "He will undoubtedly have a very successful career as a professional golfer."
The Vols' former leader leaves behind a year in which he led the team in scoring average (72.36) and rounds of par or better (16).
Darren Renwick, one of three seniors who will have no choice but to step in and become the new leaders of UT golf, said not having Windgardh around will be bittersweet moving forward.
"I'm excited for my senior year and I'm excited about where my game is and where the team's going to be with everyone improving," said Renwick after the NCAA's. "It will be sad not having Robin back (in the fall) because he's such a big part of the team. But it's the same every year; there's always a big person you are losing from the team. I really want us to make it to nationals next year for a fourth time (in a row) and make it a UT record."
Fellow senior Garrick Porteous made it plain that he expects big things from himself during the 2011-12 season.
"I'm coming up on my senior year; time to step up to the plate and, obviously, be a leader on the scoreboard and set an example," said Porteous, who improved 105 spots in the NCAA Championship from his freshman (143rd) to his junior year (38th).
While the end of the 2010-11 season saw the Vols make their third straight trip to the NCAA finals, which matched the best three-year run in program history, Kelson said the team's 24th-place finish wasn't what he expects from the team, and moreover, himself.
"We were proud of our team's efforts in the postseason and their advancement to the finals, but we expect better than 24th place," said Kelson. "Our program must become significantly better and that is 100 percent my responsibility."
But ultimately, the responsibility of winning lies on the shoulders of the guys who will step up to the tee in 2011-12. The question is, who will be the first to do so?
