By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – Fresh off its first tournament victory in over eight years, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team kept that momentum and carried into the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships at The Shoals Friday afternoon, carding a team total of 290 to finish the day in second place.
Just one team managed to outshoot the Golden Eagles through the first 18 holes of the OVC tournament, as local rival Belmont edged out the Tech squad on day one by one stroke. The Bruins put together a 289 with three players ranked in the top 15. Jacksonville State's Pablo Torres ranked atop the leaderboard individually, firing a 67 in the first round.
The Golden Eagles saw a great team effort on the first day of action, posting four players in the top 15 and all five participants in the top 25. Leading the way through the first 18 holes were seniors Lee Whitehead and Mason Griffin.
Both players tied for sixth on the day after compiling 72s to remain even to par. The wiley veteran of the Golden Eagle squad, Whitehead managed four birdies on the day, including three on par four holes. Griffin matched his teammate with four birdies, also with three coming on par four holes.
Junior Bryce Kendrick and freshman Alexander Riddle represented the other two scores in the Golden Eagles' 290, each posting impressive, one-over 73s. Both Tech golfers finished the first day of play tied for 11th overall in the field of 55.
Mitch Thomas rounded out the Golden Eagle participants on the first day of the OVC Championships, working the 7,258-yard course for a final first round total of 75. He helped the Tech squad wrap up the first round as the only program with all five golfers ranked in the top 25 of the event.
Round two of the OVC Championships will kick off at The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals on Saturday with play expected to kick off at 8 a.m. CT.
Photo by Dave Winder, Murray State Sports Information
