By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Thirty-six holes into the spring segment of its 2017-18 schedule, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team looked to have carried the momentum from its hot finish to the fall over to February.
The Golden Eagles finished the first day of The Invitational at Savannah Harbor in fifth place among the 16-team field, ranking just seven strokes behind the highest-ranked Ohio Valley Conference opponent also playing in the event, Austin Peay. Tech turned in a 296 in the first round of the day, but quickly rebounded to post the best score of the second round, a 5-under 283.
Tech's 579 through the first two rounds put Tech just three strokes above par for the event and eight strokes ahead of sixth-place Bethune-Cookman. Hosting the event at The Club at Savannah Harbor, William & Mary held the first-day lead, posting a 13-under 563.
Leading the way through 36 holes for the Golden Eagles was junior Matthew Giles. Following a first-round 75, the veteran turned in a career-low, 4-under 68 to sit in a tie for 12th place in the field of 83 golfers. His 143 placed him 1-under par for the event.
Freshman Bracton Womack proved very consistent in his first spring action, trailing his teammate by a single stroke after producing back-to-back, even-par 72s. His 144 was good enough for a tied for 14th with a round to play.
Not far off the pace, senior A.J. Wilkerson tied for 21st on the first day of action with a 2-over 146. He notched rounds of 72 and 74. Rookie Will Brooks rebounded very well after a first-round 78, carding a 3-under 69 to sit just three strokes above par with a 147. He ranked tied for 29th.
Sophomore Cameron Yeary rounded out the Tech lineup in the spring's opening tournament, finishing with a 77-77=154 to tie for 59th.
The third and final round of The Invitational at Savannah Harbor will commence with a 7:30 a.m. CT shotgun start Sunday morning.
Photo by Daniel Hooker, Western Carolina Athletics