Among Belmont Athletics 15 teams, golf tends to fly under the radar.
Though they rarely see action close to Nashville where students can cheer them on, Belmont’s golfers regularly place alongside the best in the Ohio Valley Conference.
And four graduating seniors have made great strides during their Belmont tenure.
On the men’s side, Evan Davis learned to play with love for the sport that came around by the time he could walk, he said.
“My grandpa, when I was 2 years old, made me a handmade club that I still have, that’s about a foot and a half long,” said Davis.
And while watching 2012 The Masters, the player from Lexintgton, Kentucky, had a realization.
“Bubba Watson won that year, a good Christian no-name dude, and watching that, I was like, Lord, this is what I want to do,” he said
Davis earned all-region honors in his junior and senior years of high school and won the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour Championship in 2016.
And throughout his time at Belmont, Davis’ honors continued to stack up.
Emerging as one of the top players in the conference while representing the Bruins, he stands as the reigning player of the year and has been named the OVC Golfer of the Month twice in the 2021-22 season.
And with collegiate success under his belt, Davis is preparing for what’s next.
“I’m going pro this summer, and I’m super excited to see what the Lord has to offer,” said Davis.
Franklin local Coleman Jones — like his roommate Davis — also grew up on the green.
“I was literally at a golf course from age 2 on,” Jones said.
Jones played multiple sports as a kid, but he settled on golf when he realized he could make a career out of it.
From there, Jones earned a spot as one of the top golfers in the city, winning the Tennessee State Junior Championship in 2017.
“I was playing really good golf at that time,” Jones said. “Looking back on it, it means a lot to me to have my name attached to something and having little kids look up to me.”
At Belmont, he has continued to breeze past the competition.
Jones remains thankful for everything he has learned along with all the relationships he built while representing the Bruins, he said.
“Belmont incorporates a lot of things more than just golf, friends, family, school and faith. It’s nice to put it all into perspective like that,” Jones said.
Looking back on his Belmont career, one moment sticks out for Jones — one that gave him confidence and taught him to persevere.
“In my freshman year, I was struggling a bit in our spring season, then I qualified as an individual for the tournament, and I finished best on the team and almost won it,” Jones said.
“It was just super cool to go into the conference championship as a little freshman, it boosted me to know that I have what it takes to compete.”
Over on the women’s team, Cameron Fish is bringing her award-winning game to the Tennessee links and beyond.
Hailing from Panama City, Florida, Fish learned to play golf as a way to spend time with her dad.
“My favorite part of playing golf when I was little was riding around in the cart with my dad and sometimes he’d buy me candy which was exciting for a 3 year old,” Fish said.
One of her favorite memories is attending The Masters Tournament five years ago.
“It’s a sacred place. Even if you don’t know anything about golf, I would definitely recommend going,” she said.
Fish turned her inspiration into action, and it paid off when she won her first tournament last season.
“My parents couldn’t make it, but I FaceTimed them and they were crying, I was crying. When my mom answered the phone, she was screaming, running around and crying,” said Fish.
Fish credits Belmont and her teammates for inspiring her to pursue a career in the sport post-graduation.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to teach kids and see a breakthrough come with a swing or with something involving golf and it’s super fun to be able to bring it up in the next generation,” she said.
“Everyone on my team is a pleasure to be around them, and I have nothing but proud moments. I wish to be more like them if I’m honest.”
One of those teammates, Maribeth Peevy, is continuing the golf dynasty in her family.
Currently working on her master’s degree in sport administration, Tennessee native Peevy grew up watching her family play.
“I have two older brothers that played competitively, so I would just go and watch them play and it would go to the point where I felt like I might have to play,” Peevy said.
At 8 years old, she began playing competitively in tournaments of her own.
Keeping her options open, however, she didn’t settle on the sport until later in life.
“I played like every sport up until high school except volleyball and softball,” Peevy said. “Once I got to high school, I decided on golf.”
After gaining experience competing against golfers who would go on to play at Power Five schools, Peevy believed she could make something out of herself in the sport.
Now in her final year at Belmont, she has enjoyed every aspect of her college experience, she said.
“I think I’ve definitely grown more confident in myself and in everything else these past couple years,” she said.
Peevy’s favorite memories in a Bruins uniform include conference play and competing beside her teammates.
“Conference is just super because it’s the last tourney of the season, but I really enjoyed playing last fall with five of my teammates because that rarely happens,” she said.
As for her next chapter in life, Peevy would love to stay involved in the sport, even if it’s just recreationally, she said.
“I definitely want to stay in sports, I think I can incorporate golf and my master’s degree somehow,” Peevy said.
For Peevy, the attempt to combine the two will begin this summer.
“I have an internship with the Tennessee PGA section, which I’m really excited about,” she said.
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This article has been reposted as part of the Vision's transition to the new website.
PHOTO: Maribeth Peevy representing Belmont on the course. Photo courtesy of Belmont Athletics
This article was written by Landen Secrest and Camden Morris.