By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - It's always nice when the veterans of a team can pick up the whole squad when things may not seem to be going well. It's even nicer when the newest members of the same team can spark a group and lead the team to success. That's just what the Tennessee Tech women's golf team was able to experience Monday and Tuesday at the CSU Wendy's Invitational.

In a rain-soaked event covering 54 holes on the 6,100-yard, par-72 Rivertowne Country Club, freshmen Whitney Robertson and Lydia Triplett came up clutch for the Golden Eagles, tying for ninth and raising the Tech squad to a fifth place finish in the third event of the season.

The two newcomers matched each other on the third day of play, posting identical 77s to finish with an overall mark of 225 for the tournament. Robertson shot 73-75-77=225 while Triplett carded a 77-71-77=225. The ninth place finish for each freshman marks the highest of their respective careers as well as the highest finish for any Golden Eagle this season.

Tech beat out last year's CSU Wendy's Invitational champion, Richmond, by a solid three strokes. The Golden Eagles also beat out seven other teams vying for top five finish. The fifth place finish marks the second of the season for Tech squad, already more than all of last season.

Sophomore Maddi Everts wracked up a final scorecard of 79-74-85=238, tying for 37th in the pool of 71 participants. Fellow sophomores Megan Williamson and Allison Geer each got better as the tournament played through. Williamson shot 85-78-77=240 while Geer finished the event with an 89-85-83=257.

As the season creeps along and the weather begins to get cooler, the Golden Eagles continue to play golf and will hit the links again on Monday, Oct. 14 for the APSU F&M Bank Intercollegiate hosted by Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay. The 54-hole event is set for an 8 a.m. CDT start at Clarksville Country Club and will play through Tuesday, Oct. 15.