By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the spring slates for the Tennessee Tech men's and women's golf teams grow closer and closer, the Ohio Valley Conference has released its annual predicted order of finishes, ranking both Golden Eagle squads to finish fourth in the final league standings.
"I think it just shows how both teams have consistently become more competitive each year," head coach Polk Brown said. "Since I've been here, neither team has been picked to finish higher in the OVC than this year. Having said that, I definitely believe that if we put the work in and have the right attitudes, we will exceed those expectations that have been put upon us by the time April rolls around."
The Golden Eagle men's squad certainly built plenty of momentum throughout the fall, compiling three top-three finishes and a 294.1 scoring average that ranked right in par with the team's predicted order of finish.
Highlighting the fall semester for the men was true freshman Matthew Giles, who burst onto the scene for the Golden Eagles by claiming a school-record three adidas® OVC Male Golfer of the Week honors. He also set the Tech all-time freshman scoring record in his first collegiate event, firing a 54-hole 210 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The Tech women's team also enjoyed a successful fall campaign, notching four top-five finishes on its way to a 305.07 scoring average. The mark ranked third in the OVC for the fall slate and is on pace to obliterate the previous school record for scoring average in a season of 313.66.
The Golden Eagle women continued to make history in the fall as it did the previous season, this time shattering the program record for 54-hole score by 18 strokes at the Fall Invitational. Tech used a school-record 290 in the first round of the event to pace the record-setting performance.
Individually, junior Whitney Robertson tied the school record for 54-hole score, firing a 218 in the tournament to tie the record set by teammate Megan Williamson the year before. Sophomore transfer Allyson Dunn put together one of the best single rounds ever by a Golden Eagle, carding a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Murray State Invitational, the second-lowest round in school history.
"I think it will serve as motivation for the players and I know both teams are looking forward to the challenge of seeing if we can finish higher than what we have been predicted to."
The Tech women's team will kick off the spring season with a trip to Kiawah Island, S.C. when the Golden Eagles take part in the Edwin Watts - Kiawah Island Classic hosted by the College of Charleston from Feb. 28-March 1.
As for the men's squad, the Golden Eagles will travel towards the east coast for its spring start at the Bash at the Beach Collegiate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The tournament, hosted by Appalachian State, will run from March 7-8.
2015-16 OVC Golf Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
Men's Predicted Order of Finish
1. Belmont (9 first-place votes) - 98 points
2. Eastern Kentucky (1) - 81
3. Jacksonville State (1) - 76
4. Tennessee Tech - 75
5. UT Martin - 74
6. Murray State - 54
7. Austin Peay - 46
8. Morehead State - 37
9. SIUE - 35
10. Tennessee State - 17
11. Eastern Illinois - 12
Women's Predicted Order of Finish
1. Eastern Kentucky (7 first-place votes) - 79 points
2. Morehead State (2) - 73
3. Murray State - 62
4. Tennessee Tech - 61
5. Jacksonville State - 50
6. Austin Peay - 39
7. Belmont - 34
8. SIUE - 26
9. Eastern Illinois - 17
10. Tennessee State - 9
Photo by Cody Bryant, TTU Photo Services
