KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee men’s golfer Oliver Goss announced Tuesday that he will forego his remaining two years of collegiate eligibility and enter the ranks of professional golf. The native of Perth, Australia, is Tennessee’s all-time leader in career stroke average. He also won the Silver Cup as the low amateur at the 2014 Masters, making a post-tournament appearance during the Butler Cabin ceremony.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at Tennessee,” Goss said. “The support I received from Vol Nation was unbelievable.
“I feel this is the perfect time in my career to turn professional. I’m extremely excited and can’t wait for the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage. I want to thank my teammates and coaches for everything they did for me during my two years in Knoxville.”
Goss competed in his final event as an amateur at the 2014 U.S. Open, missing the cut despite shooting a first round 71 (+1). Over the past year, Goss has elevated his game to make the cut at the 2014 Masters and finish runner-up at the 2013 U.S. Amateur.
“Oliver was an outstanding representative of the University of Tennessee and our men’s golf program,” Tennessee head coach Jim Kelson said. “He did a tremendous amount to elevate the stature of our program. He will be truly missed as a player and a person. We wish him nothing but the very best in all his future endeavors.”
During his time at Tennessee, Goss earned first-team All-SEC honors, All-SEC Freshman Team acclaim, he made back-to-back PING All-Region teams, was a third-team PING All-American, was named a Golfweek third-team All-American and was named to both the Ben Hogan Award Watch List and GolfWorld’s Top-50 list.
Goss compiled nine top-10 and five top-25 finishes in 19 total events as a Vol. He posted a career 71.88 scoring average with 26 rounds of par or better. He was the champion of the General Hackler Championship and the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate.
The 20-year-old will make his pro debut this week at the PGA Tour Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn.
