By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team wrapped up its regular season schedule on Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on rounds two and three of the Mountaineer Invitational at Pet Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, W.Va.
The purple and gold tied for 16th among the 18 teams in contention, completing the two-day event with a 946 to match the output of Navy. After play was suspended during round two on Monday due to lightning and eventual darkness at the course, the Golden Eagles finished off the second round with a 314 before turning in a 323 in round 3.
No. 4 nationally-ranked Oklahoma State won the tournament title by an impressive 24 shots, topping the other 17 teams behind an even-par 864. The Cowboys' Eric Lee led all individuals with a 6-under 210, posting rounds of 72 and 71 to wrap up the event.
A pair of youngsters led the Tech charge during the week, with freshman Drew Bolton topping the leaderboard among the Golden Eagle participants with a 234. Sporting rounds of 81 and 80 with three total birdies, Bolton tied for 48th among the 100-man field.
Fellow rookie Spencer Stuke finished one shot back of his teammate, carding a 235 to tie for 53rd overall. The freshman fired off six birdies in his second round of 76 before ending the day with two more birdies and a 77.
Ranking in a tie for 74th, junior Haden Maxwell totaled a 240 for the week. The veteran turned in five birdies on his way to a 76 in round two and followed with a final trip around the links and a score of 89.
Sophomore Matthew Shull ended the event with a collective 245, sporting rounds of 83 and 80 with a birdie in the third round. Fellow sophomore Alex Broyles tallied one shot more for the week, producing a 246 with a couple of birdies and an 81 in the second round and an 86 in round three.
Wrapping up day one tied for 89th were freshman Spencer Stuke and sophomore Matthew Shull, each turning in an 82. The rookie Stuke supplied a couple of birdies in his round, and the youngster Shull produced one birdie.
The Golden Eagles will finish off the 2024-25 campaign next week, heading to Cape Girardeau, Mo. and Dalhousie Golf Club for the Ohio Valley Conference Championships Sunday, Apr. 20 through Wednesday, Apr. 23.
| Top 5 Teams: | ||||||
| 1. | #4 Oklahoma State | 277-295-292=864 | E | |||
| 2. | Kentucky | 287-297-304=888 | +24 | |||
| 3. | #28 Texas Tech | 294-298-306=898 | +34 | |||
| 4. | West Virginia | 306-293-304=903 | +39 | |||
| 5. | Marshall | 298-303-308=909 | +45 | |||
| T-16. | Tennessee Tech | 309-314-323=946 | +82 | |||
| Leaderboard (100 Golfers) | ||||||
| 1. | Eric Lee (Oklahoma State) | 67-72-71=210 | -6 | |||
| T-48. | Drew Bolton | 73-81-80=234 | +18 | |||
| T-53. | Spencer Stuke | 82-76-77=235 | +19 | |||
| T-74. | Haden Maxwell | 75-76-89=240 | +24 | |||
| T-94. | Matthew Shull | 82-83-80=245 | +29 | |||
| 97. | Alex Broyles | 79-81-86=246 | +30 | |||
File photo by Thomas Corhern