History and tradition await Tech women's golf team for 2015-16 fall season
With as many returning players as the Tennessee Tech women's golf team has for the 2015-16 season, it comes as little surprise that the fall schedule for the upcoming year looks quite familiar to those of the past few seasons as head coach Polk Brown released the slate for the women's squad.
Click here to view the fall schedule
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With as many returning players as the Tennessee Tech women's golf team has for the 2015-16 season, it comes as little surprise that the fall schedule for the upcoming year looks quite familiar to those of the past few seasons as head coach Polk Brown released the slate for the women's squad.
All six members of Tech's third-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship return for the newest installment in the chapter of Golden Eagle golf. However, with five new players set to join the ranks, a relatively similar schedule to those of the past may be just what is needed as the team adapts to its new look.
"We have a much bigger team this year than we have had in the past," Brown explained, "bringing back everyone from last spring, plus five new faces. This schedule should be a good test for them and present a lot of opportunities for them to earn playing time. Historically we've played at many of these tournaments, so it's nice to keep some of that tradition moving forward."
Kicking off the 2015-16 season for the suddenly large group of Golden Eagles is the Golfweek Program Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The three-day event, running from Sept. 6-8, will feature 54 holes of action at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club.
"It's just a tournament where both men's and women's teams go and compete on separate courses at the same venue. It's exactly the same format that we have at our tournament in the spring, except it's at a beach. This is just a good way to start the year, right after school gets underway. I know the women will be ready to go and we're excited to try out the course."
Following the new event, things begin to look more like they have historically for the Tech squad, with a trip to Paducah, Ky. for the Murray State - Jan Weaver Invitational on the docket for Sept. 14-15. Once again, play will commence at Drake Creek Golf Course, a venue familiar to several members of the 2015-16 team.
"The next four events are ones that we've played in every year that I've been here (more or less) and that starts with Murray State's tournament in Paducah. We have had a lot of success at a very good Drake Creek Golf Course. It will be the first time we'll have the opportunity to play against some OVC teams and we're looking forward to getting out there and competing with them again."
Another trip to Charleston Southern's Wendy's Invitational also returns, with the two-day tournament taking place from Oct. 5-6 at Rivertowne Golf Course in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
"We're going back to Charleston and I know the women love going down there for that event. The field is expected to be stronger than ever this year. It's always nice to go play a really good golf course at a really nice play against really strong competition."
Two events that really stand out for the Golden Eagles are ones that saw huge amounts of success for the team last season. From Oct. 12-13, Tech will make the trip to Clarksville, Tenn. (home of junior Whitney Robertson) for the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate at the Clarksville Country Club. Led by senior Maddi Everts, who captured individual medalist honors at last year's event, the Golden Eagles notched a third-place finish, one of the team's six top-five performances during the 2014-15 season.
Also familiar is the following week's trek to Murfreeboro, Tenn. for the Blue Raider Invitational. Hosted by Middle Tennessee at Old Fort Golf Course from Oct. 20-21, Tech will look to build on last year's fourth-place finish that saw Murfreesboro native Megan Williamson set the program's 54-hole scoring mark with a 76-70-72=218.
"We'll head back to Austin Peay for an event we typically enjoy a lot of success at," Brown said. "We hope to continue those good vibes in Clarksville as we also hope to do in Murfreesboro at Middle Tennessee's tournament. We posted a strong showing there as well last year and we are looking forward to returning to both of those venues. The individual success that Maddi and Megan put together were just added bonuses and we look forward to competing strongly for some tournament titles this time around."
To conclude the fall schedule, the Golden Eagle will embark on a Nov. 2-3 trip south to Gulf Shores, Ala. for the UAB Fall Beach Blast at Peninsula Golf Club.
"For the first time in a few years we will return to UAB's event to wrap up the fall schedule. The men's squad visits Gulf Shores the week before the women, so our programs have back-to-back weeks down at the beach. It will be a fun way to close out the year, especially with how cool it typically is here in Cookeville at the beginning of November.
"We're playing in six events in the fall, as opposed to our normal five, so it will be a little different for the women this year. This will leave just five tournaments in the spring, but the challenge of playing more in the fall is one I think the women are up to and I know they are all excited to get started."
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