Click here to view the complete fall schedule
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With over 150 rounds of experience returning for the 2014-15 season, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team has plenty to be excited about for the upcoming year, especially after looking at the fall schedule recently released by head coach Polk Brown.
"We're bringing back the same core group from last year along with a few new faces," Brown said. "I'm truly looking forward to seeing what kind of work they've put in over the summer and I believe they are going to do some good things this fall. I can't wait to get started."
Three out of the five events on Tech's slate for the fall season are repeats from last year, giving the Golden Eagles an excellent background with the competition as well as the courses on which they will compete. Tech also has familiarity with a fourth tournament, having participated in the event two years ago.
The Golden Eagles will kick off the 2014-15 season with a return trip to Hattiesburg, Miss. for the Sam Hall Intercollegiate. Scheduled to begin on Monday, Sept. 8 and run through Tuesday Sept. 9, Tech will look to build early momentum at a venue that played favorably for the team last season at the event hosted by Southern Miss. Located at the Hattiesburg Country Club, the Golden Eagles fought to a fifth place finish in the fairly large, 15-team field.
"I am really looking to forward to the men's schedule this fall," Brown said. "We had a lot of success at Southern Miss. last season and I'm excited to be headed back to their event to kick off the season."
Second on the docket for the Tech squad is another repeat from last year's successful slate, a trip to the Cincinnati-hosted Bearcat Invitational on Oct. 6-7. After working to a fourth place finish in the event last season, Tech will look to once again compete for the top spot among a deep field at the Traditions Golf Club in Hebron, Ky.
"We played very well in Cincinnati's event last year," Brown explained, "so returning to their tournament will offer us another good opportunity to win at a venue we have experience at. I believe we have a great chance to repeat and build off of our performance last year and carry that into the remainder of the fall."
Tech's third event of the fall pits the Golden Eagles in Western Kentucky's WKU Kenny Perry Invitational, a tournament running from Oct. 13-14 in Bowling Green, Ky. The trip marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that Tech will play at The Club at Olde Stone.
"I'm excited to be heading back to Western Kentucky's event," Brown added. "We played there two years ago and it is an event I know we can post some low scores and compete at."
Next on the fall schedule for the Golden Eagles is the always familiar APSU F&M Bank Intercollegiate, a sixth place finish last season for men's squad. Set for Oct. 20-21, Tech will head to the Links of Novadell in Hopkinsville, Ky. for the event hosted by Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay.
"It's always good to compete in Austin Peay's event," Brown said. "We like having the opportunity to see some of our conference opponents early, especially a team as consistently good as Austin Peay. They host an excellent tournament, year-in and year-out, and I'm looking forward to going back to Hopkinsville."
Wrapping up the fall schedule is a three-day event hosted by in-state rival Middle Tennessee. Tech will head to College Grove, Tenn. from Oct. 26-28 for The Grove Intercollegiate located at The Grove.
"For the first time since I've been here we are going to a tournament hosted by Middle Tennessee," Brown said. "Any time we can play with a former OVC opponent such as them, especially considering the historical rivalry, it just brings out another competitiveness that I enjoy and I know our guys enjoy."
