By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With just over a month to go before the start of the spring season, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team is starting to go through final preparations for its upcoming slate of events.
Six more tournaments await the Golden Eagles in the spring, including the annual Ohio Valley Conference Championships. The Tech men saw a mix of results over the fall's five events, placing as high as fifth place at the Kenny Perry Invitational.
But head coach Polk Brown thinks there's still plenty of work to be done heading into the spring's opening event, the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate hosted by Francis Marion on Feb. 23. The two-day event, which takes the Tech squad to Hilton Head, S.C., will take place at Wexford Plantation Golf Club.
"I firmly expect to see the guys rebound from a fall that fell below our expectations," Brown said. "We are going to have to get after it quickly, as our first event in Hilton Head looks to have a very strong field."
Next on the docket for the men is a tournament hosted by a familiar foe, OVC and in-state rival UT Martin. The Skyhawks will welcome the Golden Eagles to the Grover Page Classic in Jackson, Tenn. from March 9-10. The event will once again take place at Jackson Country Club, a place that Tech has seen success at in the past.
"We have traditionally performed very well at Jackson Country Club," Brown explained. "After coming so close last year with our runner-up finish, I look for our guys to make another solid run at the title come the first part of spring break. It will also give us a great opportunity to play against some OVC competition."
For the third straight year, the Golden Eagles will host the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate in Sevierville, Tenn., with this year's event running from March 16-17. Located at Sevierville Golf Club, Tech's annual tournament is held each year in memory of legendary and Hall of Fame head coach Bobby Nichols.
"We look to have another solid showing at our event in Sevierville come mid-March," Brown said. "The field looks to be very deep, so it will present an excellent challenge for the guys. It's always an honor to host this event and we can't wait to represent Tennessee Tech University again."
Tech concludes the regular season stretch of the spring in April with events at Arkansas State and Tennessee State. From Apr. 4-5, the Golden Eagles will visit Jonesboro, Ark. for the third straight year, competing at RidgePoint Country Club.
The team finishes things at Tennessee State's Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted at The Hermitage President's Reserve in Nashville. The event represents another familiar tournament hosted by an in-state, OVC rival.
"As we head towards conference, we will close out by playing at Arkansas State's event again followed by returning to Tennessee State's tournament after a year hiatus," Brown said. "Both tournaments will give us a great chance to create solid momentum heading into the OVC Championships."
Running from Apr. 24-26, the 2014-15 OVC Championships will return to Muscle Shoals, Ala. for the second straight year and third time overall. Three 18-hole rounds will take place on the Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
"The Robert Trent Jones layout at Fighting Joe is a very, very good test of golf where the best team in the OVC will ultimately come out victorious," Brown explained. "With the proper mindset and great work ethic during the course of the spring, I firmly believe these young men can make a run at the title."