By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

KENNESAW, Ga. – Just one more round remains for the Tennessee Tech men's golf team in the fall portion of the 2019-20 campaign after the Golden Eagles knocked out the first 36 holes of the Pinetree Intercollegiate Monday.

Competing at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga., the Golden Eagles turned in rounds of 299 and 297 to rank 10^th overall with a two-round score of 596. Tech sat just six shots back of Austin Peay and Loyola Chicago for a share of seventh place. Mercer led the field of 11 with a 577, edging host Kennesaw State by two shots with just one round to go.

For the purple and gold, there was a tie at the top of the leaderboard to pace the team's first day of play. Junior Will Brooks and sophomore Chance Taylor each put forth scores of 148 to sit at 4-over and in a tie for 18^th overall.

A native of Cookeville, Brooks turned in three birdies and an eagle to post a first-round 75. He followed it up with four more birdies and a 1-over 73 while leading the entire field of 59 golfers in par-5 scoring with a mark of 6-under.

Taylor, hailing from Gate City, Va., captured a 77 over the first 18 holes, but rallied to turn in a 1-under 71 in his second chance around the course. In his second round, he birdied three holes while shooting par on 13 more. He also tied for the field lead in par-3 scoring, sitting at 3-under heading into Tuesday.

Sophomore Cade Puryear also carded three birdies and 13 pars to fire a 1-under 71 on Monday, combing his first-round total with an 81 to finish the day at 152 and in a tie for 37^th. Senior Dabney Dickenson trailed his teammate by just one shot, completing the first 36 holes of action with a 153 behind rounds of 76 and 77. He ranked in a tie for 45^th.

Rounding out the lineup for the Golden Eagles, rookie Nick Sutton shot rounds of 80 and 76 for a 156.

Belmont's Evan Davis led the field through the first two rounds, capturing a 10-under 134 after scores of 68 and 66. Troy's Connor Futrell trailed by just one shot while Mercer's Martin Plukka hovered just two strokes behind.

The third and final round of the Pinetree Intercollegiate will commence for the Golden Eagles with tee times beginning on the 10^th hole at 7:45 a.m. CT.

Photo by Jose Garcia, TSU Media Relations