April 17, 2012

Golden Eagles hold onto second place at 10-team Big Blue Intercollegiate

With consistent play from all five players Tuesday, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team was able to share second place in the 10-team Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted by Tennessee State University at Hermitage Golf Course.

OLD HICKORY, Tenn. -- Consistent play from everyone in the lineup Tuesday helped the Tennessee Tech men's golf team hold on to second place at the 10-team Big Blue Intercollegiate, hosted at Hermitage Golf Course by Tennessee State University.

Junior Lee Maxwell had the best round of the day for the Golden Eagles with a 71 as he climbed to a 17th place finish, while sophomore Mason Griffin earned the highest finish for Tech as he placed 14th overall following a final round 74. Travis Ramsey and Sam Schrock both tid for 21st place and Greg Kitts, who had the team's best round Monday with a 69, wound up in 32nd place overall.

Murray State, one of six Ohio Valley Conference teams in the field, won the title for the third consecutive year with a 54-hole total of 843. The Racers scored rounds of 281, 282 and 280 on the 6,822-yard, par 72 layout. Tech shot 287 and 282 Monday, and closed with a 293 Tuesday for an 862 total.

Southern Illinois (294-286-282) closed strong and made up enough ground to tie the Golden Eagles in second place. UT Martin (865) and IPFW (865 toied for fourth place to round out the Top 5 teams. The second five included Eastern Illinois (873), Morehead State (878), Tennessee State (880), North Dakota (880) and Trevecca Nazarene (884). The field included a total of 61 players.

Murray State's Patrick Newcomb earned medalist honors with 73-69-67--209, for a one-shot victory over SIUs Jake Erickson (72-70-68--210).

Griffin ended the first day tied for fourth place after shooting 72 and 70 on Monday, but he slipped out the Top 10 with a 74 Tuesday to finish in 14th place at 216. Maxwell, who entered the day fifth on the Golden Eagle card after rounds of 76 and 70 Monday, finished a one-under 71 to finish at 217 and tied for 17th place.

Ramsey's rounds of 70, 73 and 75 put him in a tie for 21st place at 218, along with Schrock who carded identical scores but in a different order (70, 75 73) for his 218 total. Greg Kitts followed his first round 75 Monday with a 69, then ended with a 76 Tuesday for a 220 total and tie for 32nd place.

The tourney was the final competition for coach Polk Brown's team before the OVC Tournament, which is scheduled for April 26-28 at Greystone Country Club in Dickson.

The Tech women will be at the same course earlier in the week, playing in their own OVC Tournament beginning Sunday and running through Tuesday.