The Tennessee Tech men’s golf team wrapped up its fall season with a third place finish at the A-State Fall Beach Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama last week.
The first round of the tournament got underway Sunday afternoon, Oct. 25. Senior Mitch Thomas and freshman Matthew Giles led the way for the Golden Eagles. They each shot 73s and were tied for seventh place at the end of the first round of action. The team finished the day in sole possession of third place.
Monday’s second round was canceled because of rain. The rain seemed to help out the course according to Giles.
“After the rain the course had on Monday, I thought the course played a little easier on Tuesday,” Giles said. “They moved up some tees on a few holes, which made the course shorter, and the rain also softened the greens.”
In the final round Tuesday, Tech knocked off 11 strokes from its first round total of 298 with a 287 to give them a 585 for the tournament and a third place finish.
Giles led the way again for the Golden Eagles in the final round. The freshman fired a 70 for the day and ended the tournament tied for third place individually at 1-under-par. His good play earned him All-Tournament and his third OVC Male Golfer of the Week title.
Coach Polk Brown had nothing but good things to say when asked about Giles.
“Well, he’s been dang good this fall and that’s an understatement,” said Brown. “Could not have asked for a better start to his collegiate career. The way he carries himself on the course and just the talent the young man has … sky is the limit. Excited for the what the future holds for him.”
Thomas finished the tournament tied for 16th place. A.J. Wilkerson’s 70 in the final round helped him finish the tournament tied for eighth place.
This was the final tournament until the spring season gets underway, but Brown expects the team to work hard this offseason and come out ready to win in the spring.
“My expectations are that these guys bust their rear ends over the next few months and come out ready to roll in March,” Brown said. “There is a lot of parody in our conference, and I think we have the personnel to make a run at OVC in April. I expect us to be ready.”
