Interview
CGN+ Player Highlight and Interview: Evan Rogers Continues Winning Ways at Chattanooga
Chattanooga sophomore Evan Rogers has continued his success following a freshman season that earned him Southern Conference Freshman of the Year and All SoCon honors. The Duluth, Georgia, native has captured three collegiate individual titles, including victories at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and Trinity Forest Invitational during the 2026 to 2027 season.
Rogers also helped Chattanooga win the 2026 SoCon Championship and advance to the NCAA Championships before capturing the 2026 Georgia State Amateur title. His latest victory at Trinity Forest included a final round 63 and earned him another SoCon Golfer of the Week award.
Career Highlights
- 2026 SoCon Freshman of the Year
- 2026 All SoCon and SoCon All Freshman Team
- Three collegiate individual victories
- 2026 Racer Intercollegiate champion
- 2026 Visit Knoxville Collegiate champion
- 2026 Trinity Forest Invitational champion
- Three career SoCon Golfer of the Week awards
- 2026 Georgia State Amateur champion
- Helped Chattanooga win the 2026 SoCon Championship
- Helped Chattanooga advance to the 2026 NCAA Championships
- Six top 10 finishes during his freshman season, a Chattanooga freshman record
- School record 144 birdies during his freshman season
- Two time Georgia high school individual state champion in 2024 and 2025
- Competed in the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
Collegiate Results Snapshot
2026 to 2027 Sophomore Season | Chattanooga
Trinity Forest Invitational
- Won his third collegiate individual title at 16 under par, 200
- Recorded rounds of 68, 69 and 63
- Finished four strokes ahead of USC’s Deitrek Gill
- Recorded 19 birdies and an eagle across three rounds
- Closed with a career low 63, nine under par
- Earned SoCon Golfer of the Week honors on October 7
- Became the fourth Chattanooga player with at least three collegiate individual victories
Visit Knoxville Collegiate
- Won his second collegiate individual title at 10 under par, 200
- Recorded rounds of 67, 67 and 66
- Finished one stroke ahead of the field
- Played his final 44 holes without a bogey
- Earned his second career SoCon Golfer of the Week award
2025 to 2026 Freshman Season | Chattanooga
Racer Intercollegiate
- Captured his first collegiate individual victory at seven under par, 209
- Recorded rounds of 70, 69 and 70
- Made 12 birdies across three rounds
- Earned his first SoCon Golfer of the Week award
NCAA Bryan Regional
- Tied for fourth at 12 under par, 204
- Helped Chattanooga advance to the NCAA Championships at Omni La Costa
Freshman Season Accomplishments
- Competed in all 12 tournaments
- Recorded a 71.81 scoring average, second on the team
- Posted 20 rounds of par or better and 10 rounds in the 60s
- Earned six top 10 finishes and four top five finishes
- Set Chattanooga’s freshman record for top 10 finishes
- Recorded a school record 144 birdies
- Helped Chattanooga capture the SoCon Championship
Amateur and Junior Golf
2026 Georgia State Amateur
- Won the championship at 10 under par, 278
- Recorded rounds of 69, 69, 72 and 68
Junior Golf Accomplishments
- Won consecutive Georgia high school individual state championships in 2024 and 2025
- Qualified for the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur
- Finished third at the 2025 Western Junior
- Finished third at the 2025 North & South Junior
- Tied for seventh at the 2025 Georgia Amateur
- Recorded three Southeastern Golf Tour victories in 2023
- Reached No. 33 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings
Interview Highlights with CGN
Transitioning from baseball to golf
Rogers grew up playing baseball before committing to golf around age 12. Encouraged by his swing coach, he began competing in junior tournaments and developed an appreciation for golf’s individual nature. He acknowledged that the transition was challenging because many players his age already had considerable tournament experience.
Developing confidence in junior golf
Rogers described himself as a slow starter who began seeing stronger results during his junior year of high school. Winning a Georgia high school state championship and competing near the top of national junior tournaments helped establish his confidence before arriving at Chattanooga.
Family support and coaching
Rogers credited his parents for supporting his junior golf career through tournament travel and expenses. He also recognized longtime swing coach Mike Lipnik for helping develop his game throughout his junior and collegiate careers.
Choosing Chattanooga
Rogers visited Chattanooga during his recruitment and connected with head coach Blaine Woodruff and the coaching staff. He appreciated the program’s facilities, team environment and commitment to developing competitive players.
Adjusting to college golf
Rogers recalled the pressure of his first collegiate qualifying tournament, which involved approximately six rounds. He opened with a round of five under par, helping him settle into the competition. He also discussed learning to balance academics, travel, practice and independent living.
Mental approach to competition
Rogers emphasized the importance of managing expectations and focusing on preparation rather than results. He credited his father with helping develop his mental approach and explained that Chattanooga’s coaching staff encourages players to concentrate on effort and execution.
Tournament preparation
Rogers described a practice routine that combines extensive range work with on course competition. His preparation includes wedge and iron drills, driving accuracy exercises and putting practice focused on speed control at tournament venues.
Record setting freshman season
Rogers acknowledged that his first fall semester included difficult tournament performances. He worked with Chattanooga’s coaching staff to evaluate those results and improve throughout the spring, eventually recording six top 10 finishes and earning SoCon Freshman of the Year honors.
Chattanooga’s NCAA postseason run
Rogers discussed how Chattanooga developed confidence heading into the SoCon Championship and NCAA Bryan Regional. He credited the coaching staff’s emphasis on managing expectations and the team’s preparation for demanding tournament schedules.
Winning the Georgia State Amateur
After competing in the NCAA Championships, Rogers returned to amateur competition and won the 2026 Georgia State Amateur. He later experienced fatigue from a demanding summer schedule and took time away from competitive golf to recover before returning for additional amateur events.
First collegiate victory
Rogers discussed his victory at the Racer Intercollegiate, where he focused on course management and avoided checking the leaderboard during his round. After making a birdie on the 17th hole, he learned from Woodruff on the final green that two putts would secure the championship.
Continued success at Chattanooga
Rogers added two victories during his sophomore season, winning the Visit Knoxville Collegiate and Trinity Forest Invitational. His Trinity Forest performance was particularly significant after previously missing U.S. Junior Amateur match play qualification at the same course.
The victory gave Rogers three collegiate individual titles and placed him among four Chattanooga players in program history to reach that mark.
