By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Neil Gannaway matched the lowest round of his brief career to lead a tremendous final round charge by the Tennessee Tech men's golf team, which roared up the standings to a third place finish Tuesday at the Big Blue Invitational, hosted by Tennessee State University at Hermitage Golf Course.

Gannaway's 68 on his second tour of the course following an opening round 76 on Monday and lifted the Birmingham, Ala., native into a tie for fourth place to earn his first all-tournament honor.

The Golden Eagles opened the day tied for seventh place with UT Martin after carding a 301 on Monday. On Tuesday, Tech not only broke the tie with the Skyhawks, the Golden Eagles zipped ahead four other teams to finish third with  290, for a 36-hole total of 591. The 290 Tuesday was the third-best round of the spring for coach Polk Brown's team.

First-round leader Belmont hung on to capture the crown, adding a 288 Tuesday to its first-round 292 for  four-over-par 580. Murray State, which opened the day four strokes back in second place, made up three shots with a 285, the low round of the tournament, and crept to within a single shot before finishing second at 581.

Following Tech's 591 was host Tennessee State, which dipped had rounds of 295 and 97 for a 592. West Georgia (594) place fifth, followed by Detroit (598), and Evansville (601).  All of those teams were ahead of Tech when the sun rose Tuesday morning.

North Greenville (603) finished eight, followed by UT Martin and SIUE (6-4), Green Bay (613), West Alabama (626) John A. Logan College (630) and Walters State Community College (646).

Twice this year Gannaway tied for ninth place for his highest previous finishes. He only joined the Golden Eagle golf program last spring after a four-year career as a wide receiver on the Tech football team. His top showing last year was 61^st place, while this season he claimed ninth place at the Bash at the Beach and the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate. He equaled his career-best of 68, which he first shot at the Bash at the Beach on March 7.

Senior Bryce Kendrick clung to seventh place with rounds of 73 and 72 for a 145 total, while Mitch Thomas (73-74—147) placed 14^th. Kendrick and Thomas were tied for seventh after Monday's play.

Freshman Matthew Giles (83-76—159) saw a huge jump to finish 67^th after slicing seven shots, and sophomore A.J. Wilkerson (79-81—160) finished 69^th.

Among the individuals in the 89-player field, Alexander Riddle placed 38^th with scores of 76 and 77 for a 153 total, while Benjamin Huskey (82-76—158) climbed to 61^st place with a six-shot jump Tuesday.

Belmont's Ashton Van Horne (67-71—138) took home medalist honors by a four-stroke margin over Jared Gosser of Murray State (73-69-142). Tennessee State's Jeremy Fultz (72-71—143) took third while Gannaway tied two players for fourth.

The Golden Eagles, along with many of the same teams in the Big Blue Invitational, will head to Muscle Shoals, Ala., in two weeks for the Ohio Valley Conference championships.