By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

TUNICA, Miss. – It was a highly successful day on the links for the Tennessee Tech men's golf team, as the Golden Eagles won both of their match-play tilts on the first day of the Carpenter-Chaney Classic at Tunica National.

Competing in match play for the first time, the purple and gold went into the event and first match-up as the No. 1 ranked team (based on GolfStat rankings), squaring off with No. 8 Tennessee State. Tech took the first tilt 4-1-1, advancing to the winner's bracket for round two.

Sophomore Mark McDearman delivered the most lopsided victory against the Tigers, up eight through 18 holes. Right behind was sophomore Nick Sutton, finishing seven up on his TSU counterpart.

Junior Chance Taylor tallied a final mark of two up while sophomore Sean Anderson completed the first round one up.

Advancing to the semifinals, the Golden Eagles took on No. 4 Morehead State, edging the Ohio Valley Conference foe 3-2-1 to secure a place in the final on Tuesday.

After tying in the quarterfinals, redshirt freshman Jackson Skeen erupted to take his match-up up six through 18 holes. Sutton collected his second win of the day up five while Taylor also secured a second victory up three.

McDearman notched a clutch tie to send the Golden Eagles to the finals. Sutton led the entire field of 48 golfers with a whopping 12 birdies on the days while Skeen also finished in double figures with 10. McDearman paced the purple and gold with 25 pars.

The Golden Eagles will square off with No. 2 UT Martin in the championship match Tuesday morning with tee times beginning at 10:06 a.m. CT.

File photo by Thomas Corhern