By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – With freshman Matthew Giles leading the way on the third day, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team wrapped up play at the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a solid 295 for the final round.
It wasn't enough to lift Tech any further in the final standings, however, as the Golden Eagles finished in seventh place. Tech opened the tourney with a 313 on Monday that pushed the team to 10th place, and rebounded with the best round of the tournament Tuesday at 286 to jump to seventh.
Hoping to continue its upward trend on the final day, Tech posted a combined 11 bogeys and three double bogeys over the front nine holes at The Shoals, and seven birdies weren't able to overcome that sluggish start.
The Golden Eagles added nine birdies on the back nine, and closed the day with a 295 total and a 54-hole 894 total, leaving coach Polk Brown's team 10 stroke behind Belmont and Murray State, which tied for fifth place at 884.
Giles wrapped up his first venture to the conference championship with an even-par 72, giving him a final score of 222 putting him into a tie for 13th place.
Giles was one of four Golden Eagles who opened the final day tied at 150. Senior Mitch Thomas posted a two-over 74 Wednesday, placing him in a tie for 20th place at 224. Bryce Kendrick's final round netted a 75 and put him at 225, in a tie for 25th place.
Ben Huskey closed his tourney with a 74 and a 230 total, tying him for 35th place. Senior Neil Gannaway slipped to an 82 Wednesday, and wrapped up his career with a 232 total for a 44th place finish.
Morehead State made a strong case for the crown, edging Tech's 286 with a final round 285 on Wednesday, but the Eagles came up one stroke short of UT Martin. The Skykawks closed with a 296 and a 54-hole total 879 to win the championship, wioth Morehead State (880) second, and Jacksonville State (881) third. Eastern Kentucky finished fourth at 883.
Hunter Richardson of UT Martin finished as the medalist at 211, three strokes better than Will Sallee of Eastern Kentucky (214) in second place.