By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
HICKORY, Tenn. – A valiant final-round effort helped the Tennessee Tech men's golf team secure a top-five finish at the Big Blue Intercollegiate Tuesday afternoon, as the purple and gold closed out its regular season competing on the Presidents Reserve course at Hermitage Golf Club in Hickory, Tenn.
The Golden Eagles turned in the top round of the tournament on Tuesday, capturing a 275 to finish with a 3-under 849 and fourth among 15 teams in contention. It marked the fifth-lowest round in program history.
Belmont took the tournament crown, finishing 9-under with an 843 to jump past Evansville by one stroke. Tying for medalist honors were Longwood's Justin Larue and Lindenwood's Renato Filho, both posting 7-under 206s.
For Tech, Jackson Skeen led the way after tying for third and just missing out on a share of medalist honors following a 207. The sophomore carded a 3-under 68 to wrap up a spectacular regular season that saw him lead the Ohio Valley Conference in stroke average.
Freshman Anders Larson erupted for a monster final round, producing a 6-under 65 to tie for 16th in the 90-man field with an even-par 213. The rookie's performance tied for the fifth-lowest round in school history and set the program's freshman single-round scoring mark.
Senior Chance Taylor was next on the leaderboard for Tech, tying for 27th following an even-par 71 in the third round. He produced a 215 overall to finish one shot ahead of both Sean Anderson and Haden Maxwell, who tied for 31st. Anderson and Maxwell both turned in their own even-par rounds to finish with scores of 216.
Tying for 57th overall was Bryce Beeler, carding a 220 overall behind a final round of 74. Joining Maxwell as individuals competing for Tech were Alexander Bassel and Mark McDearman. Bassel tied for 76th with a 78 and final score of 231 while McDearman posted a 76 and 233 to finish 87th.
The purple and gold will turn its attention to the Ohio Valley Championships, set to kick off on Sunday, Apr. 23 and run through Wednesday, Apr. 26 in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The league's annual postseason event will take place at Dalhousie Golf Club.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | Belmont | 286-281-276=843 | -9 | |||
| 2. | Evansville | 281-285-277=844 | -8 | |||
| 3. | Longwood | 285-281-280=846 | -6 | |||
| 4. | Tennessee Tech | 286-288-275=849 | -3 | |||
| 5. | Morehead State | 286-288-276=850 | -2 | |||
| Leaderboard (90 Golfers) | ||||||
| T-1. | Justin Larue (Longwood) | 71-67-68=206 | -7 | |||
| T-1. | Renato Filho (Lindenwood) | 74-62-70=206 | -7 | |||
| T-3. | Jackson Skeen | 67-72-68=207 | -6 | |||
| T-16. | Anders Larson | 75-73-65=213 | E | |||
| T-27. | Chance Taylor | 74-70-71=215 | +2 | |||
| T-31. | Sean Anderson | 72-73-71=216 | +3 | |||
| T-31. | Haden Maxwell* | 70-75-71=216 | +3 | |||
| T-57. | Bryce Beeler | 73-73-74=220 | +7 | |||
| T-76. | Alexander Bassel* | 80-74-73=227 | +14 | |||
| 87. | Mark McDearman* | 78-79-76=233 | +20 | |||
| *indicates competed as an individual | ||||||
File photo by Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Media Relations
