By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team saw flashes of the future to come Tuesday afternoon, as freshman A.J. Wilkerson and Alexander Riddle both concluded impressive debuts at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate.
With the Golden Eagles placing seventh in the 12-team event, both youngsters showed off in their first taste of collegiate golf. Wilkerson, a redshirt freshman, finished with a very respectable 73-74-73=220 in his first action in purple and gold. He tied for 32nd place overall in a field of nearly 75.
Riddle, a true freshman from Chattanooga, placed in a tie for 25th while playing as an individual. He showed strong numbers throughout the tournament, finishing with a 219 thanks to rounds of 73, 71 and 75.
Senior Lee Whitehead took the top spot among the Golden Eagle participants in Hopkinsville, tying for 15th after two tough days on The Links at Novadell. The wiley veteran carded a 71-70-73=214 at the event, his lowest score of the season.
Next among the Tech scorers was junior Mitch Thomas, who averaged a 73 to finish tied for 25th. Sports a 219, Thomas put together a 75 and season-low 71 on day one before tossing out a 73 on day two for his second straight top 25 finish.
Junior Bryce Kendrick fell just one stroke back of Wilkerson for the tournament, carding a 72-74-75=221 to tie for 38th. Senior Mason Griffin followed right behind. In fact he was also just one stroke back of his teammate after finishing with a 222 thanks to rounds of 73, 73 and 76.
Cookeville native Adam Cunningham put together a solid tournament playing as an individual. He sported a 74, 77 and 75 for a 226.
"We played some of our best golf this week," head coach Polk Brown said. "That said, we still have work to do heading into our final event of the fall at The Grove. This was a good field and our next event will be tough too."
The Golden Eagles will wrap up their fall season starting Sunday, Oct. 26 with a three-day event hosted by Middle Tennessee. Tech will head west for The Grove Intercollegiate in College Grove, Tenn., a 12-team event with three other in-state programs in competition.