By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team wrapped up its first tournament of the spring on Saturday afternoon, finishing the third and final round of play at the Peoples Golf Championship Sea Palms Resort in St. Simons Island, Ga.
The Golden Eagles ended the event tied for 19th with Siena, turning in their lowest round of the week with a score of 294 to total 895. UNCG finished off its tournament win behind a 21-under 831, besting the field by 16 shots. Drexel's Drue Nicholas rocketed up the leaderboard to earn individual medalist honors, rocking a 12-under 201 behind a final round of 66.
For the purple and gold, Haden Maxwell took his own turn climbing the ranks of the 119-man field, tying for 29th behind a three-day total of 216. The junior fired a 2-under 69 on Saturday, stacking a whopping six birdies on top of 10 pars.
Breaking away from the pack of Golden Eagles that had been tied for two days, rookie Spencer Stuke finished off his best tournament showing of his young career. The freshman tied for 85th with a 226, producing a 74 with two birdies to close things out.
Squared away with matching scores of 228 were Matthew Shull and Drew Bolton. For the sophomore Shull, three birdies led the way to his final round of 74. As for Bolton, the rookie might as well have been renamed Mr. Consistent after delivering his third consecutive score of 76 for the event with two birdies while competing as an individual.
Fellow freshman Hil Thompson finished off the spring's first tournament with a third round of 77, turning in two birdies on his way to a total of 230. Rounding out the Golden Eagle lineup, Alex Broyles posted an 81 with two birdies while completing the event with a composite 233.
Next on tap for the purple and gold is another three-day event, with Tech making the trip to Mobile, Ala. for the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate. Spanning Sunday, Mar. 23 through Tuesday, Mar. 25, the tournament will take place at RTJ at Magnolia Cove.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | UNCG | 268-279-284=831 | -21 | |||
| 2. | Davidson | 277-293-277=847 | -5 | |||
| 3. | Drexel | 284-282-286=852 | E | |||
| 4. | Villanova | 280-282-293=855 | +3 | |||
| 5. | Xavier | 288-283-286=857 | +5 | |||
| T-19. | Tennessee Tech | 305-296-294=895 | +43 | |||
| Leaderboard (119 Golfers) | ||||||
| 1. | Drue Nicholas (Drexel) | 66-69-66=201 | -12 | |||
| T-29. | Haden Maxwell | 76-71-69=216 | +3 | |||
| T-85. | Spencer Stuke | 76-76-74=226 | +13 | |||
| T-98. | Matthew Shull | 76-78-74=228 | +15 | |||
| T-98. | Drew Bolton (I) | 76-76-76=228 | +15 | |||
| T-105. | Hil Thompson | 79-74-77=230 | +17 | |||
| 112. | Alex Broyles | 77-75-81=233 | +20 | |||
| (I) - indicates competing as an individual | ||||||
File photo by Mark Elsner
