By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COLLEGE GROVE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf club can finally put a bookend to the 2014-15 fall season, as the Golden Eagles wrapped up play at The Grove Intercollegiate Tuesday afternoon, finishing the event hosted by in-state rival Middle Tennessee in ninth place after a third-round 307.
In what stood as the toughest test for the Tech squad of the year, the Golden Eagles edged out American Athletic Conference members Cincinnati and Tulsa as well as fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Belmont. The team finished the event at The Grove Club with a final line of 298-302-307=907.
Leading the Golden Eagles all week, senior Mason Griffin collected his highest finish since the fall of his freshman season, tying for eighth place after carding a 76 on day three. His final scorecard for the weekend finished as 71-74-76=221.
Senior Lee Whitehead and junior Mitch Thomas tied each other for the next spot among the Golden Eagle scorers, wrapping up the event with 230s. The wiley veteran of the team, Whitehead wrapped up his consistent week with a 77 on day three after tallying rounds of 76 and 77 on the first two days of action. Thomas saw his seesaw weekend with a third-round 80 after posting scores of 77 and 73 over the first 36 holes.
In his first start in the purple and gold, true freshman Alexander Riddle rounded out the tournament with a 235. The Chattanooga native rounded out the three-day event with a 79, shaving three strokes off his second-round total to contribute to Tech's final score.
Junior Bryce Kendrick put together a very solid final round, leading the Golden Eagles on the day with a 75 over his final 18 holes. He also tallied a 78 on day two after seeing his first-round score disqualified due to an inadvertent scorecard error.
"That was the toughest event we've taken part in all season," head coach Polk Brown said, "and I think we put together a solid performance. I still believe we are capable of a lot more and we will take the next four months to work on bettering some of our weaknesses. I look forward to challenge with these young men as we prepare to contend for an OVC title in the spring."
With the conclusion of The Grove Intercollegiate, the Tech squad will now face a four-month hiatus from the links before the start of the spring season.