Tech sits in fourth place heading to final round of Grover Page Classic

Tech sits in fourth place heading to final round of Grover Page Classic

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Jake Heatherly set the tone for Tennessee Tech in the first round Monday and Josh Simer carried the torch in the second round, and the pair helped the Golden Eagle men's golf team settle into fourth place in the 16-team Grover Page Classic following the first 36 holes.

The final 18 holes will be played Tuesday, with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The start was moved back a couple of hourse because of cold temperatures and the chance of light snow.

Heatherly led Tech in the opening round with a 72 and the Golden Eagles were in fifth place with a 302 team total. In the second tour of the 6,783-yard, par 72 Jackson Country Club, Simer tied for the lowest score of the round with a 69 and the Golden Eagles combined for a 295 total.

That added up to 597 for coach Craig King's team, and the Golden Eagles jumped up one spot to fourth.

Central Arkansas has separated itself from the field and is far ahead in first place with a 556 team score, shooting rounds of 277 and 279. North Alabama is a distant second at 289-291--580, with Tennessee State in third at 292-297--589.

The Golden Eagles are fourth at 597, putting them 12 shots ahead of Cincinnati (300-309) and Union University (311-298), tied for fifth at 609.

The second five includes Lambuth (614), Southern (616), Morehead State (617) and UT Martin (621).

Individually, Simer is in 11th place after shooting 78-69 for a 147, 10 strokes behind the tourney leader. Heatherly shot 72-76--148 and is tied for 12th place. Wes Korth is tied for 18th place at 76-74--150, Blake Garrison is 30th at 76-76--152, and Preston Marshall is tied for 67th place at 86-78--164.

One additional Golden Eagle in the field is Lee Maxwell, playing as an individual. He's tied for 49th place after shooting 79-79--158 on Monday.