By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After losing the fall portion of its 2020-21 schedule due to the effects of COVID-19, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team is itching to get back on the links. Head coach Polk Brown officially announced the upcoming spring slate Wednesday afternoon.
"Our guys could not be more excited to get back to tournament play this spring," Brown expressed. "We haven't played in any events since last March, so we are extremely thankful for the opportunity to travel and compete once again. We spent the entire fall preparing for this chance, and we look to take full advantage of it this upcoming semester."
Kicking off the spring for the men's squad is a trip to Savannah, Ga. for The Invitational at Savannah Harbor. Hosted by William & Mary at The Club at Savannah Harbor, the two-day event will span Feb. 20-21. This will mark the third time in four years the Golden Eagles have participated in the event, and first since the 2018-19 campaign.
"This semester's schedule looks very similar in some instances, but there are also several tournaments we've never competed in, which is very exciting," explained Brown.
Tech's second event of the season marks its annual home tournament hosted in Sevierville, Tenn., the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate. This year marks the eighth time in nine years the Golden Eagles will honor the Hall of Fame coach while competing at Sevierville Golf Club, after missing out on the event last season due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Teams will once again compete on the River Course, this year from Mar. 14-16.
"We look forward to hosting our annual event once again," Brown said. "We were set to leave for the BNI just before the shutdown happened last spring, so the anticipation is at an all-time high to continue our tradition. We can't wait to get started."
New to the rotation for the Golden Eagles this year is The National Intercollegiate, hosted by Mercer from Mar. 29-30. Tech will head down to Greensboro, Ga. to compete at The National Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
The following week, another first-time event graces the Tech spring schedule, the Golfweek Spring Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Hosted by Golfweek from Apr. 5-6, teams will battle it out at True Blue Golf Club. The Golden Eagles have played at True Blue before, having participated in Golfweek's fall event for a number of years.
Representing the third-consecutive week of play for the purple and gold is the Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted by in-state and Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee State. Tech, a two-time winner of the event and the defending champion (having won the 2018-19 edition), will look to continue its historic success at The Hermitage Golf Course and the President's Reserve course from Apr. 12-13.
Tech will wrap up the spring at the OVC Championships from Apr. 25-27. The event will be held at the Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
