By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Steady play from three members of the Tennessee Tech men's golf team kept the Golden Eagles in the hunt for a Top 5 finish at the GolfWeek Program Challenge Tuesday afternoon.

The Tech squad tallied a 289 in the second round of play, just one stroke above its score from day one. The team concluded the day in 10^th place overall, ranking ahead of fellow Ohio Valley Conference programs Jacksonville State (12^th) and Morehead State (18^th) and just four strokes back of Austin Peay (T-6^th). With 18 holes left in the event, the Golden Eagles also finished the day just 11 strokes out of second place.

Another fantastic showing from Matthew Giles helped keep his team in position to make a move on Tuesday, as the true freshman posted a 1-under 71 to move into a tie for ninth place in the 90-man field. He collected four more birdies to rank in a tie for first overall in the category in tournament with 11 total.

Giles was far from the only Tech golfer to see red on his scorecard Monday afternoon, as seniors Mitch Thomas and Bryce Kendrick each fired off 2-under 70s to climb the leaderboard. Thomas, who now ranks in a tie for 26^th after a first-round 74, tallied three birdies to just one bogey, completing the rest of the holes at even par.

Kendrick amassed seven birdies in his second round, starting off on fire with five in his first six holes on the back nine. He cooled off on the front nine, but still managed to card a 2-under to go with a 76 from day one. He finished the second day in a tie for 35^th.

Cookeville native Adam Cunningham tied Kendrick for 35^th through the first two days of action, completing his second go at the True Blue Golf Club with a 78. Senior Neil Gannaway completed Tech's five golfers at the event, posting an 81.

Tech will wrap up the final 18 holes at the GolfWeek Program Challenge Tuesday morning with Gannaway set to kick off the action on hole No. 10 at approximately 6:30 a.m. CT.

Photo by Rob Schabert