By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The countdown is on for the Tennessee Tech women's golf team as the Golden Eagles prepare for the beginning of the spring segment of their 2014-15 schedule.
Five tournaments stand between the Tech squad and its chance at taking home an Ohio Valley Conference Championship, an achievement that looks to be well within reach after team's finish to the fall.
"There were many great team and individual performances this past fall," head coach Polk Brown said, "but it is time to move forward and continue that success in the spring."
After wrapping up the fall schedule with three top-four finishes, the Golden Eagles will kick off the spring with a couple of new venues, starting with the USA Women's Invitational. Hosted by South Alabama, the tournament will run from Feb. 23-24 at the Azalea City Golf Course in Mobile, Ala.
They follow that trip up with another new destination, the Jacksonville Golf Club in Jacksonville, Fla. North Florida will host Tech, along with several other programs, in the two-day, UNF Intercollegiate from March 9-10.
"The ladies have a very solid schedule starting with two events on the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast, respectively," Brown explained. "This will be our first trip to both South Alabama's and North Florida's events, so we are very excited to head south and get back to competition."
Once again the Golden Eagles will play host to the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate, a three-day tournament held annually for the third straight year in honor of the late, Hall of Fame coach. The event will take place March 16-17 at Sevierville Golf Club in Sevierville, Tenn. and welcome several outstanding team.
"We return to Sevierville for the third edition of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate, and event we are always honored to host in his name," Brown said. "Having won the event two years ago, we expect the success to continue come mid-March. This will be a great opportunity to build some momentum for the final stretch of the schedule."
Tech's final two events before the tournament championship will pit the Golden Eagles against OVC competition, starting with Eastern Kentucky's Colonel Classic from Apr. 3-4 at The Arlington Club in Richmond, Ky. The women follow that up with a trip to Miller Memorial Golf Course for the Murray State Time Warner Invitational, Apr. 10-11.
"We will look to have a great deal of momentum built after playing the final two events of the spring at EKU and Murray State before heading to the OVC Championships," Brown explained. "Arlington Golf Club and Miller Memorial both present great opportunities for the team to gain even more confidence as we head to Hampton Cove."
For the first time in league history, the OVC Championships will be held in Huntsville, Ala. at the Highlands Course at Hampton Cove on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Three tough days of competition from Apr. 20-22 will challenge the Golden Eagles as the squad looks to improve off a solid fifth-place showing last year.
"Hampton Cove is a great venue," Brown said, "and there is no question that this team has an amazing chance to do something special at the conference championships. I am very excited to see how the semester unfolds."
