By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – It was a successful first day of the eighth annual Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate for the Tennessee Tech men's golf team Sunday, as the Golden Eagles returned to Sevierville to host its yearly event after last year's edition was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The purple and gold finished the first 18 holes of the three-day tournament in third place among the 15 teams in action, turning in a 5-under 283 collectively. Fellow Ohio Valley Conference rival Morehead State led all teams with a 279 on the day, led by one of two individual leaders in the clubhouse. The Eagles' Joe Muschong posted a 6-under 66 to tie for the lead with Tusculum's Dominic Barron Holden.
Playing in his first collegiate event, rookie Mark McDearman paced the Golden Eagles on Sunday by carding a 3-under 69. The freshman tied for eighth overall among the 77 competitors in the field.
Competing as an individual for the purple and gold, senior Will Brooks tied for 10th after carding a 2-under 70. Fellow senior Bracton Womack matched his teammate's efforts, also producing a 70 to tie for 10th.
Three more Golden Eagles were the next to appear on the leaderboard for Tech, each producing an even-par 72. Junior Chance Taylor finished even-par with a whopping 15 pars and two birdies. Sophomores Nick Sutton and Sean Anderson each totaled three birdies on their way to their 72s.
Redshirt senior Dabney Dickenson rounded out Tech's participants at the River Course at Sevierville Golf Club, turning in a 76 while competing as an individual.
Round two of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate is slated to begin with tee times Monday morning, starting at 7:30 a.m. CT.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | Morehead State | 279 | -9 | |||
| 2. | Carson-Newman | 281 | -7 | |||
| 3. | Tennessee Tech | 283 | -5 | |||
| 4. | Findlay | 284 | -4 | |||
| T-5. | Murray State | 285 | -3 | |||
| T-5. | UT Martin | 285 | -3 | |||
| T-5. | Tusculum | 285 | -3 | |||
| Leaderboard (77 Golfers) | ||||||
| T-1. | Dominic Barron Holden (Tusculum) | 66 | -6 | |||
| T-1. | Joe Muschong (Morehead State) | 66 | -6 | |||
| T-8. | Mark McDearman | 69 | -3 | |||
| T-10. | Will Brooks* | 70 | -2 | |||
| T-10. | Bracton Womack | 70 | -2 | |||
| T-21. | Chance Taylor | 72 | E | |||
| T-21. | Sean Anderson | 72 | E | |||
| T-21. | Nick Sutton | 72 | E | |||
| T-58. | Dabney Dickenson* | 76 | +4 | |||
| * indicates competing as an individual | ||||||
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information