By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Firing its best round of the week, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team jumped up a spot to finish in fifth place at the Kenny Perry Invitational Tuesday afternoon, clinching its first top five finish of the year.
The Golden Eagles managed to bounce back nicely after a tough tournament in Hebron, Ky. one week ago, wrapping up play on Tuesday with a 296, the third-lowest team score of the day. For the tournament, Tech turned in a card of 297-301-296=894 to finish fifth among the 12-team field.
Fellow in-state rival Lipscomb took home top honors at the event, with host Western Kentucky in a distant second place, eight strokes back.
"The guys turned in a solid round today and really improved the way they finished this event," said head coach Polk Brown. "That's been something we've struggled with the first two tournaments of the year and I thought they did a good job of finishing. We'll have another tough event next week at Austin Peay, but I believe we're getting better every day and we'll come out fighting for a title."
Senior Mason Griffin just missed out on his first top 10 finish of the year, tying for 11th overall after wrapping up a solid week with a third-round 73. Following a 77 start play on Monday, he bounced back with a 72 in round two followed by the 73 to finish the event with an overall score of 222.
Three more Golden Eagles fought their way to top 25 finishes, including juniors Mitch Thomas and Bryce Kendrick and senior Lee Whitehead. Thomas, carded a 72-74-77=223 to sit just one stroke back of Griffin, ultimately tying for 19th overall.
Both Whitehead and Kendrick tied for 21st in the event, each taking their own path to final scores of 225. The wiley veteran on the squad, Whitehead turned in a 73-77-75=225 to finish nine-over par. Kendrick struggled on Monday with scores of 76 and 78, but really turned it on for the finish, firing a team-low 71 for the event and 225 overall.
Cookeville native Adam Cunningham wrapped up the Tech participants, tallying a third-round 81 to finish at 241 for the tournament.
Tech will hit the links again on Monday, Oct. 20 as the team looks to take home the top spot at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate in Hopkinsville, Ky. The 54-hole event will run through Tuesday, Oct. 21.
