First round leaves Golden Eagles with an uphill climb at OVC Championships
After first round 313, the Tennessee Tech men's golf team has some ground to make up over the next two days at the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Championships. Tech is 10th in the 11-team field.
First day final results (PDF)
Second day tee times (PDF)
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech men's golf team finds itself in a tough position following the first round of the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Championship Monday, but coach Polk Brown's team plans to play with confidence and hope as it moves to the final two rounds.
Following Monday's opening round at The Shoals, the Golden Eagles are in 10th place in the 11-team field. One good day Tuesday could bump Tech into the middle of the race and two strong efforts would put the Golden Eagle into contention.
Jacksonville State fired a two-over 290 total Monday to grab the early lead, with UT Martin (293) three shots back. Murray State (297) and Eastern Kentucky (298) also scored under the 300-mark to complete the first four spots, with Austin Peay (300) in fifth.
Belmont (301) is sixth, followed by Morehead State (308), Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State (tied for eighth at 309), Tenessee Tech (313) and SIU Edwardsville (314).
Senior Mitch Thomas led the Golden Eagles Monday, finishing the day tied for ninth place individually with a 74. Senior Neil Gannaway (photo above) shot a 78 and is tied for 35th place, while freshman Matthew Giles is tied for the 46th spot after carding an 80. Senior Bryce Kendrick and redshirt freshman Ben Huskey are tied for 49th place at 81.
Hunter Richardson of UT Martin holds the individual lead at three-under 69, while Daniel Pico of Jacksonville State is second with a two-under 70. They were the only two out of the field of 55 golfers to break par, while three are tied at even-par 72.
The second round tees of Tuesday at 8 a.m., with the Golden Eagles listed in the first five twosomes off the tee.
