Former Vanderbilt golfer Ryan Thornton has plenty of company staying at his childhood residence this week for the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Invitational.
Thornton, who ended a four-year playing career at the Nashville university this spring, has four former teammates staying at his family home, and assistant coach Dustin Smith is staying close as well.
“It’s miserable,” joked Thornton, who prepped at Baylor School. “No, it’s cool to have everybody back together again after this summer. It makes it fun and relaxing for a tournament.”
A couple of the Commodores are in contention. All except their host — who is tied for 31st — sit inside the top 10 heading into the final round today at Council Fire Golf Club.
“It would be great if I beat all the guys,” said Smith, who is in the next-to-last group off today with one of his players. “This is the first tournament where I’ve competed against them. The guys play golf every day, and up until this tournament I hadn’t played in about a month.