By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
RICHMOND, Ky. -- The Tennessee Tech women's golf team returns to University Club at Arlington this weekend to compete in the EKU Colonel Classic, a 54-hole tournament hosted by Eastern Kentucky University.
Tech has played in the EKU spring event four times since 2009, including each of the past two years, and is looking to improve on last year's third place finish in what proved to be a one-day, single-round event when rained washed out the final two rounds.
The tournament has been held every year since 1993-94, with different names for the event, and the Golden Eagles have been a regular participant throughout those 22 years.
A tough field of 11 teams will battle through two rounds on Friday on the 5,819-yard, par 72 layout, with an 8:30 a.m. EDT start. The final round is slated for a 9 a.m. EDT start.
GOLDEN EAGLE LINEUP: The lineup for coach Polk Brown will feature four regulars plus one freshman making her debut in the team competition in Lindsay Miller (photo above). The Golden Eagle team lineup will include junior Whitney Robertson, sophomore Allyson Dunn, senior Maddi Everts, freshman Hollee Sadler, and Miller. Individuals in the field will include senior Megan Williamson, sophomore Anna Cunningham, and juniors Lydia Triplett and Haley Davidson.
MILLER TIME: Lindsay Miller has played in two tournaments this season for the Golden Eagles, both times competing individually, so the EKU event will mark her first time to qualify for Tech's five-player team lineup. Miller tied for 40th place overall in the fall at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate, and last week she tied for 27th place overall at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate.
THE COMPETITION: In addition to host Eastern Kentucky and Tech, the 11-team field will include teams from Austin Peay, Ball State, Belmont, Bowling Green, Cleveland State, Dayton, IUPUI, Northern Kentucky and Ohio.
LAST YEAR AT EKU: With the weather finally cooperating Saturday afternoon, Tech started and completed The Colonel Classic in one day, placing third in the field of 12 teams. The event, which took place at the Arlington Golf Club, went from a 54-hole event to an 18-hole affair after Friday's action was cancelled due to unplayable weather conditions. The Golden Eagles made their only round of the tournament count, combining to shoot a 311. The Golden Eagles received huge rounds from both Whitney Robertson and Megan Williamson, who tied for third overall with rounds of 75. Each earned All-Tournament honors with their performances, the third of the year for Robertson and second of the year for Williamson. Sophomore Lydia Triplett tallied an 80 to tie for 29th overall, while freshman Anna Cunningham followed, finishing in a tie for 34th overall with an 81. Haley Davidson wrapped up the starting lineup for Tech, carding an 89 to tie for 68th. Competing as an individual, junior Maddi Everts finished the day tied for 29th overall after tallying an 80.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH BROWN: "After our finish in Sevierville (second place at the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate), we look to continue the momentum at EKU. We look forward to the opportunity to compete against other teams in the OVC that will be participating as we make the final stretch run to Conference."
LAST TIME OUT: A hole-in-one by freshman Lindsay Miller was the highlight early in the day, and strong team play from the entire lineup throughout the afternoon Tuesday (March 22) gave the Tennessee Tech women's team the lowest score of the round and left the Golden Eagles firmly in second place at the fourth annual Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate at the Sevierville Golf Club. The TTU Golden Eagles made up eight strokes on second-round leader Southern Miss with a 312 total in Tuesday's third round for a 936 total, but came up five shots shy of USM (931) for the team title. Junior Whitney Robertson and sophomore Allyson Dunn each earned all-tournament honors with Top 5 finishes. Robertson placed third in the field of 74 players, closing play with a 75 Tuesday, following rounds of 78 Sunday and 77 Monday. Dunn showed steady improvement and finished fifth overall after scores of 81-77-74 for a 232 total.
WEATHER FORECAST: Friday's forecast calls for a slight chance of rain and a high of 67 degrees. Winds will gust to 16 mph. The chance of rain diminished throughout the day and evening, and temps slip to a high Saturday of 56 degree. Winds will also increase to 21 mph on Saturday.
SINCE 2009 AT EKU:
In 2015: The tournament was reduced to one round due to rain and Golden Eagles placed fourth among the 12 teams. Whitney Robertson and Megan Williamson tied for third place after each carded a round of 75.
In 2014: Two years ago, Robertson and Williams also led Tech, which finished 10th in the field of 12 teams. Robertson placed 12th and Williamson was 18th.
IN 2012-13: Tech didn't compete in the tournament for two seasons.
In 2011: Tech was 11th among 13 teams as the tournament went all three rounds. Carley Rhyne was Tech's top finisher in 19th place, followed closely by Brandy VanEtter in 20th place and Lindsay Spradlen 21st.
In 2009: Tech placed 12th among 18 teams in the 2009 version of the event. Meagan Bradford was the top finishing Golden Eagle in 26th place, while Ashley Spangler was 30th.
