By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team made improvements in the final round of Appalachian State's Bash at the Beach Tuesday afternoon, moving up the leaderboard to finish in fourth place among the nine teams in competition.

Fighting it out at The Surf Golf and Beach Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Golden Eagles backed up their first two rounds of 294 and 294 on Monday with an improved 292 on Tuesday. Tech's final score over the 54 holes of play of 880 was good enough to edge Delaware by a single stroke for fourth place.

Leading the Golden Eagles throughout the tournament was Matthew Giles, who posted a third-round 73. The junior tied for 18^th overall among the 60 participants, adding his 2-over from the day to his 72 and 75 in rounds one and two for a 220 overall.

Finishing just one stroke back was freshman Will Brooks, who posted his best round of the tournament on Tuesday. The Cookeville native shot a 1-over 72 to tie for 21^st after first-day rounds of 76 and 73. He finished with a 221 overall.

Senior A.J. Wilkerson tied for 24^th in the event with an overall total of 222, backed by rounds of 72, 70 and 80. Rookie Bracton Womack carded a 74-76-76=226 to tie for 35^th overall. Veteran Alexander Riddle turned in the best round of the day for Tech, firing an even-par 71. The senior finished 50^th with a final score of 237.

Both competing as individuals, sophomores Dabney Dickenson and Cameron Yeary each shot 77s in the final round of play. Dickenson tied for 28^th after tying his career-low score of 223 with rounds of 76, 70 and 77. Yeary finished play with a 231 to tie for 47^th.

Newberry College took first place in the event, narrowly defeating Charleston Southern by a single stroke with an 853 overall. Newberry's Carlos Leandro and CSU's Jacques Wilson tied for medalist honors with scores of 207.

The Tech squad will get another test on the links beginning Monday, Mar. 12 at the Grover Page Classic in Jackson, Tenn. The two-day event, hosted by Ohio Valley Conference rival UT Martin, will commence at Jackson Country Club.

Photo by Daniel Hooker, WCU Athletics