By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Neil Gannaway shaved five strokes off his second round score in Tuesday's final round, and climbed into a tie for ninth place individually, pacing the Tennessee Tech men's golf team on the final day of the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate at Sevierville Golf Club's River Course.
Gannaway missed a spot on the all-tournament team by one stroke, finishing at 219 overall as the Golden Eagles held onto fifth place, the spot they opened the day in at the 12-team event. Gannaway closed with a final round 70.
Western Kentucky made up a huge deficit Tuesday, opening the day 10 strokes behind Murray State, and the Hilltoppers claimed the team title by three strokes. WKU's final round score of 291 was the best of the day, and lifted the Bowling Green, Ky., school to the crown with a 876 54-hole total.
Murray State, which led through each of the first two rounds with scores of 282 and 293, slipped to a 304 Tuesday to finish second at 879.
Southern Illinois (298) and Austin Peay (296) had solid final rounds to finish tied for third place at 892. The Golden Eagles posted a 301 Tuesday, and finished in a three-way tie for fifth place at 897 with Carson-Newman (297) and Wright State (300).
Oakland (899) finished eighth, followed by Jacksonville State (900), Samford (911), Evansville (923) and Tennessee State (926).
Following Gannaway on the leaderboard for coach Polk Brown's team was senior Mitch Thomas, who shot a 77 Tuesday to finish tied for 19th place at 224. Senior Bryce Kendrick, who roared to a 69 on Monday, slipped to an 84 Tuesday and finished tied for 43rd place at 230. Freshman Matthew Giles was one stroke back at 231, posting a 73 Tuesday for his best round of the event. The lineup was rounded out by sophomore A.J. Wilkerson, who wrapped things up with an 81 and a 239 total.
Tech's two individual entries, freshman Ben Huskey and sophomore Alexander Riddle, tied at 240.
Murray State's Preston French bounced back to capture medalist honors with a 71 for a 213 total. He held the tourney lead after a first round 67, but slipped to second after Monday's 75. His teammate, Jared Gosser, took second place overall after carding a 79 Tuesday. Gosser shot 69 Sunday and moved into the temporary lead Monday with a 67, before closing at 215. Third place went to Jacksonville State's Bobby Hayes, competing as an individual, with a 217, while five players tied for fourth at 218.
The Golden Eagles get a couple of weeks out of action, before playing in Tennessee State's Big Blue Intercollegiate in Nashville, April 11-12.
