Simer, Heatherly all-tournament, Golden Eagles fifth at North Alabama Spring Classic
Seniors Josh Simer and Jake Heatherly became the first Golden Eagles tandem to earn all-tournament honors in the same event in more than two years and Tech trimmed 11 strokes from its first day total on the way to a fifth place finish in the North Alabama Spring Classic.
First time Tech places two on all-tournament team in
more than two years
FLORENCE, Ala. -- Seniors Josh Simer and Jake Heatherly each
earned all-toruanemnt honors, finishing in a tie for fourth place
individually, and Tennessee Tech sliced 11 strokes Tuesday off its
first round score.
It marked the first time since October, 2007, that Tech has placed
two golfers on an all-tournament team. For Simer, it's the third
all-tournament honor this season while Heatherly claimed the award
for the first time in his career.
Their second day improvement didn't prevent the Golden Eagles
from slipping two spots in the team standings, however, as Tech
finished fifth among the 20 teams in the tournament.
Host North Alabama, playing on its home course, followed its
opening round 298 with a 290 on Tuesday to claim the team title
with a 36-hole total of 588. That was good for a fiv-eshot edge
over second place Delta State, which also closed play with a 290 on
Tuesday and finished at 593.
Arkansas Tech, which started the second round in 10th place, fired
the low round of the tournament with a 286 to jump all the way to
third place at 599. Central Alabama CC was fourth at 302-292--600,
with Tech two shots back. The Golden Eagles carded a 306 Monday and
improved to a 295 Tuesdy - the team's lowest round of the spring --
to place fifth at 601.
Tech's score was one shot better than Indianapolis (602) in sixth
place, followed by Concord (605), Central Missouri (607), Tampa
(608) and Lindenwood (610) to round out the top 10.
Chase Smith of Delta State took medalist honors with a score of
144 after blazing to a 69 on Tuesday. Paul Colditz of Lindenwood
also shot 69 Tuesday and finished tied for second at 146 with North
Alabama's Jake Greer.
Heatherly (78-70) and Simer (74-74) were tied for fourth at 148
along with four others as the all-tournament team included nine
players. Earlier this year Simer earned all-tournament honors at
the Murray State Invitational and the Frito Lay Intercollegiate. It
also is Simer's fifth Top 10 finish this season.
Heatherly's previous high finish was sixth place at the Pizza
Hut-AT&T Intercollegiate last yar in Jackson, Miss. His
previous best showing this year was 10th at the Grover Page
Classic.
Blake Garrison, who was tied for fifth entering play Tuesday, shot
a 77 and placed in a tie for 25th at 151. Travis Ramsey improved
from an 80 to a 76 Tuesday and placed 54th at 156. Wes Korth
chopped eight strokes off his first-round 83 to shoot a 75 Tuesday
and finish 62nd at 158.
The next action for the Golden Eagle men's team is the Big Blue
Invitational, April 5-6, hosted by Tennessee State University.
