By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – While the 2016-17 spring portion of the Tennessee Tech men's golf schedule holds just five events, there will still be plenty of opportunities for the young Golden Eagle squad to grow in the coming months.
"Quite a bit of learning took place in the fall," head coach Polk Brown said. "We did have some success in small doses and we're looking to make that more consistent in the spring. We certainly have a lot of work ahead of us, but the guys have been great. They've stayed positive and really dealt with any adversity that's come their way very well."
"I think that will bode well for them in the spring as we play in four events we have significant experience in and a lot of familiarity with," Brown explained. "A lot of the guys have seen and played all of the courses we'll go to this spring. Now, granted the four freshmen haven't seen them yet, but given the amount of players that have experience, I think that'll be a big help for us when we play in those events."
The lone new event for the Golden Eagles in the spring is a trip featuring a flight to Ft. Lauderlade, Fla. for the Ft. Lauderdale Intercollegiate at Ft. Lauderdale Country Club. It represents the team's first tournament of the season, running from Mar. 6-7.
"We don't get to fly very often," Brown explained, "rarely ever really. We've wanted to do something like this ever since we went to Arizona with the guys and to Las Vegas with the women a few years ago. I know they're excited. It should be a good trip. It's just a good opportunity for both teams and it's good for our program to be able to do something like this every once in awhile."
Tech follows up the venture down south with a more-than-familiar tournament, the Grover Page Classic hosted by league and in-state rival UT Martin. Participants in the event each of the past seven years, the Golden Eagles will once again head to Jackson Country Club in Jackson, Tenn. for the two-day event from Mar. 13-14.
Next up for the young Tech squad will be playing host to the fifth annual Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate, the team's home tournament in Sevierville, Tenn. The men will once again patrol the River Course at Sevierville Golf Club, looking to continue the honored tradition of playing in the former Tech head coach's name from Mar. 19-21.
"It's a great honor to be able to host a tournament in Coach's name," Brown expressed. "It's something we wanted to do ever since I came back to the program six years ago and we want to continue to do every year as long as we can. Sevierville Golf Club has been gracious enough to allow us to host our event and will continue to do so this year.
"He [Nichols] was such a good man and we miss him dearly. This is just a small way to show our respect for him and everything he did for this program for over 30 years."
Following the home event is another traditional tournament trip, the Big Blue Intercollegiate hosted by in-state and conference foe Tennessee State. Played at The Hermitage President's Reserve in Old Hickory, Tenn., the Golden Eagles will make their fifth appearance in the past six years at the event Apr. 10-11.
"We've had a lot of success in UT Martin's and Tennessee State's events," Brown explained. "We've had some good rounds at Sevierville as well. The guys are itching to get back after it and are ready to get down to Ft. Lauderdale and get the season going the right way. We're definitely proud of them and it's going to be simply a matter of putting in the work, staying positive and staying the course."
The Golden Eagles will conclude the spring schedule at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, held on the Fighting Joe Course at The Shoals of the RTJ Trail in Muscle Shoals, Ala. from Apr. 24-26.
Photo by Carla Hazelwood, TTU Assistant Golf Coach
