OLD HICKORY, Tenn. -- Consistent play from everyone in the
lineup Tuesday helped the Tennessee Tech men's golf team hold on to
second place at the 10-team Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted at
Hermitage Golf Course by Tennessee State University.
Junior Lee Maxwell had the best round of the day for the Golden
Eagles with a 71 as he climbed to a 17th place finish, while
sophomore Mason Griffin earned the highest finish for Tech as he
placed 14th overall following a final round 74. Travis Ramsey and
Sam Schrock both tid for 21st place and Greg Kitts, who had the
team's best round Monday with a 69, wound up in 32nd place
overall.
Murray State, one of six Ohio Valley Conference teams in the field,
won the title for the third consecutive year with a 54-hole total
of 843. The Racers scored rounds of 281, 282 and 280 on the
6,822-yard, par 72 layout. Tech shot 287 and 282 Monday, and closed
with a 293 Tuesday for an 862 total.
Southern Illinois (294-286-282) closed strong and made up enough
ground to tie the Golden Eagles in second place. UT Martin (865)
and IPFW (865 toied for fourth place to round out the Top 5 teams.
The second five included Eastern Illinois (873), Morehead State
(878), Tennessee State (880), North Dakota (880) and Trevecca
Nazarene (884). The field included a total of 61 players.
Murray State's Patrick Newcomb earned medalist honors with
73-69-67--209, for a one-shot victory over SIUs Jake Erickson
(72-70-68--210).
Griffin ended the first day tied for fourth place after shooting 72
and 70 on Monday, but he slipped out the Top 10 with a 74 Tuesday
to finish in 14th place at 216. Maxwell, who entered the day fifth
on the Golden Eagle card after rounds of 76 and 70 Monday, finished
a one-under 71 to finish at 217 and tied for 17th place.
Ramsey's rounds of 70, 73 and 75 put him in a tie for 21st place at
218, along with Schrock who carded identical scores but in a
different order (70, 75 73) for his 218 total. Greg Kitts followed
his first round 75 Monday with a 69, then ended with a 76 Tuesday
for a 220 total and tie for 32nd place.
The tourney was the final competition for coach Polk Brown's team
before the OVC Tournament, which is scheduled for April 26-28 at
Greystone Country Club in Dickson.
The Tech women will be at the same course earlier in the week,
playing in their own OVC Tournament beginning Sunday and running
through Tuesday.