By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team is all set to defend its title at the Big Blue Invitational early next week, hosted by Tennessee State University. Tech returns to the Hermitage Golf Club for 36 holes Monday and 18 on Tuesday, the scene of a record-setting Golden Eagles performance last April.
Tech broke the school scoring record in the first round at 277, then soared way beyond that and shattered the mark in the final round with a 269 to top the 13-team field. Coach Polk Brown's team overcame an 11-
shot deficit after two rounds to win the trophy.
Two of the players in Tech's record-setting lineup a year ago are back in the lineup this season, led by senior Mitch Thomas who finished second individually. He's joined by senior Bryce Kendrick, who also played a role in Tech's success on this course a year ago. A third member of the lineup last year, Alexander Riddle, will be on the course but competing as an individual.
The Big Blue gathering is the final tune-up for the Golden Eagles before heading to Muscle Shoals, Ala., April 25-27, for the Ohio Valley Conference Championships.
THE BIG BLUE INVITATIONAL: The 14-team field will play on the par-72, 7,157-yard President's Reserve Course at Hermitage Golf Club. The competition will include 36 holes on Monday with the final 18 to be played on Tuesday. A shotgun start at 8 a.m. is planned for both days.
GOLDEN EAGLE LINEUP: The Golden Eagle lineup will include senior Neil Gannaway, senior Mitch Thomas, senior Bryce Kendrick, freshman Matthew Giles, and sophomore A.J. Wilkerson. The Golden Eagles will also have two players competing as individuals in redshirt freshman Ben Huskey and sophomore Alexander Riddle.
THE COMPETITION: The tournament field will consist of 14 teams plus individuals. Teams participating in addition to host Tennessee State and the Golden Eagles include Belmont, Detroit, Evansville, Murray State, SIUE, UT Martin, Wisconsin-Green Bay, John A. Logan, North Greenville, Walters State, West Alabama and West Georgia. Jacksonville State will have individuals in the field.
LAST YEAR AT THE BIG BLUE: The Golden Eagles captured the championship at the 13-team Big Blue Invitational last season, with junior Mitch Thomas roaring to second place individually and seniors Mason Griffin and Lee Whitehead tying for fifth. Bryce Kendrick (11th) and A.J. Wilkerson (13th) also earned finishes in the Top 15 among the 80 players. Tech claimed its first tournament championship in more than eight years, breaking the school scoring record in the first round with a 277 and shattering that in the third round with an incredible 269.
QUITE THE TOURNAMENT: Junior Mitch Thomas took his play to a new level at the 2015 Big Blue Invitational. After carding a 66 on the opening day, firing off a tournament-low 64 (8-under) in the final round to solidify second place overall in the field of 80. The Knoxville native's final 18 holes helped him tie the program mark for single round relative to par, matching the eight-under, 64 recorded by Randy Darcy in 1972, and the eight-under, 63 run off by current PGA Tour pro Scott Stallings.
THOUGHTS FROM COACH BROWN: "The guys have had a couple of weeks to work on areas of their game to get ready for Tennessee State. We have had a lot of success at the Hermitage having won this event last year. We are looking to get some solid play under our belts as we look ahead to OVC. Hermitage sets up very well for them, and we anticipate giving ourselves a great opportunity to defend come Tuesday morning."
WEATHER FORECAST: The forecast includes a possibility of rain each day, with temperatures in the 60s and low 70s. For Sunday's practice round, the teams are looking at a high of 68 under cloudy skies and a 20 percent chance of rain, with winds around 15 mph. Monday's play will be under a 50 percent threat of rain, but also features the warmest weather with a high of 74. Winds will continue to be a factor at 16 mph. On Tuesday, winds will be lighter, the chance of rain is at 40 percent, and the temperature drops to a high of 61.
