Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
The Grove bites back in second round
10/27/2014 5:05:00 PM | Men's Golf
Scores much higher on day two
Results - Photo Gallery
COLLEGE GROVE, TN — At the conclusion of two of three rounds of golf, the overwhelming thought among the 12 teams competing in the Intercollegiate at The grove could become a marquee fall tournament for some of the top college teams in the country.
The 72-hole, 7,368 yard course, which was designed by PGA tour legend Greg Norman, has been as impressive as it is challenging.
Unlike Sunday's picture-perfect setting, Monday's overcast skies and a strong breeze out of the south brought with it a higher round of scores for all involved.
"I'm pleased, but we failed on a few spots today," said Matt Terry, head coach for Troy. Terry said that had he known coming into the tournament his team would carry a four-stroke lead going into the final round he would have been happy.
"You take what the course gives you and today it didn't give us a lot."
Troy opened up a 10-stroke lead over Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon, but, on Monday, they shot 304 as a team and it was GRU Augusta with a 296 that moved within four strokes.
Terry said his team is playing well and that he's anxious to see how they play on Tuesday with the tournament on the line.
He added, "It will definitely be a good learning experience for these fellas."
While Troy held their opening day lead atop the team standings, Lipscomb standout Dawson Armstrong held onto the individual lead as well.
Dawson shot a one over 73 for a two-day total of 139 and a three-shot lead over John Jonas of the College of Charleston.
Jackson Dick (Mississippi State) is third with an even par 144 followed by five players at one over and two others at two over, while a trio are at three over par with 147, including Middle Tennessee's Conner Smith.
"The winds picked up a lot and that made all the conditions tougher," said Dawson, who added that he lost focus on the back nine from 14 through 16 before telling himself to settle down. "I felt like I was in panic mode and I told myself I need to relax and let things happen. It showed on 18, I birdied."
In a similar comment to Terry, Dawson said on days like this it's important to accept that not everything is going to go your way. He emphasized the importance of not letting bad shots become worse "and just realize that's the way things go sometimes."
Ohio State head coach Donnie Darr also spoke of the wind.
"The golf course played longer today," Darr said, "and you had wind and wind always exposes a weakness, so if you're not striking the ball very well and you're going into the wind, well, that curvature is exposed. It was definitely a tougher golf course today and then the wind made it more difficult."
Darr was especially proud of Clark Engle, who was the lone player to come off the course with a two-under par 70.
"I think he just played a real solid round," said Darr. "He didn't do anything special. More importantly he never put himself out of position and he struck the ball well all day long and, in fact, one of his bogey's was on a three-putt."
"It was definitely tougher today," said Engle, who admitted to struggling at times, but was able to hit good shots and stay with it.
He alluded to giving himself "a few birdie looks."
"I took my opportunities where there were some birdie holes," Engle said, "and made par where some holes where tougher."
However, he's hoping that his team is in position to win on Tuesday.
Troy is atop the leaderboard with 583 followed by GRU Augusta (587). Lipscomb is third with 590, while Southern Miss (593) and Ohio State (593) round out the Top 5.
The rest of the field is College of Charleston (599), Middle Tennessee (600), Tennessee Tech (600), Mississippi State (601), Cincinnati (604), Tulsa (607) and Belmont (611).
"The Grove makes it special," said Middle Tennessee head coach Whit Turnbow, who spent the past nine months planning the first of what he envisions as an annual fall tourney for years to come, "and the university does its best to put its best foot forward."
Turnbow acknowledged a team of volunteers from The Grove and the university have gone "out of their way to make sure these players and coaches have a great experience."
Everyone involved has worked to make it a first class event.
From the two-year old course and the practice tees to the hospitality and selection of local hotels, Turnbow, who's already heard from teams regarding the 2015 tournament, and his staff have received "lots of positive comments."
"When everybody has the same mindset that we want this to be one of the best tournaments in the country, that's kind of the way [The Grove] views it," Turnbow said, "you can put on a really quality event."
Turnbow added, "It's going to be a special event and one we continue for many, many years to come."
Darr described the course as phenomenal. He said the fairways are some of the best and the greens are tremendously smooth.
Terry agreed.
"Middle Tennessee always puts on a great event and it's only going to get better," Terry said. "People are going to hear about it and I'm personally going to go out and brag on the golf course and the event. It'll continue to grow and there's definitely some good talent out here."
Turnbow, who took over the Middle Tennessee program from longtime Blue Raiders coach Johnny Moore, was mindful and appreciative of the membership at The Grove giving up their exclusive club for four days.
"I can't say enough about the membership letting us have their golf course for a few days," Turnbow said, "it's pretty tremendous."
The 12-team tournament concludes Tuesday morning with the final round teeing off at 9 a.m. followed by an award ceremony at 4 p.m.
Fans can track live scoring at Golfstat.com.
COLLEGE GROVE, TN — At the conclusion of two of three rounds of golf, the overwhelming thought among the 12 teams competing in the Intercollegiate at The grove could become a marquee fall tournament for some of the top college teams in the country.
The 72-hole, 7,368 yard course, which was designed by PGA tour legend Greg Norman, has been as impressive as it is challenging.
Unlike Sunday's picture-perfect setting, Monday's overcast skies and a strong breeze out of the south brought with it a higher round of scores for all involved.
"I'm pleased, but we failed on a few spots today," said Matt Terry, head coach for Troy. Terry said that had he known coming into the tournament his team would carry a four-stroke lead going into the final round he would have been happy.
"You take what the course gives you and today it didn't give us a lot."
Troy opened up a 10-stroke lead over Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon, but, on Monday, they shot 304 as a team and it was GRU Augusta with a 296 that moved within four strokes.
Terry said his team is playing well and that he's anxious to see how they play on Tuesday with the tournament on the line.
He added, "It will definitely be a good learning experience for these fellas."
While Troy held their opening day lead atop the team standings, Lipscomb standout Dawson Armstrong held onto the individual lead as well.
Dawson shot a one over 73 for a two-day total of 139 and a three-shot lead over John Jonas of the College of Charleston.
Jackson Dick (Mississippi State) is third with an even par 144 followed by five players at one over and two others at two over, while a trio are at three over par with 147, including Middle Tennessee's Conner Smith.
"The winds picked up a lot and that made all the conditions tougher," said Dawson, who added that he lost focus on the back nine from 14 through 16 before telling himself to settle down. "I felt like I was in panic mode and I told myself I need to relax and let things happen. It showed on 18, I birdied."
In a similar comment to Terry, Dawson said on days like this it's important to accept that not everything is going to go your way. He emphasized the importance of not letting bad shots become worse "and just realize that's the way things go sometimes."
Ohio State head coach Donnie Darr also spoke of the wind.
"The golf course played longer today," Darr said, "and you had wind and wind always exposes a weakness, so if you're not striking the ball very well and you're going into the wind, well, that curvature is exposed. It was definitely a tougher golf course today and then the wind made it more difficult."
Darr was especially proud of Clark Engle, who was the lone player to come off the course with a two-under par 70.
"I think he just played a real solid round," said Darr. "He didn't do anything special. More importantly he never put himself out of position and he struck the ball well all day long and, in fact, one of his bogey's was on a three-putt."
"It was definitely tougher today," said Engle, who admitted to struggling at times, but was able to hit good shots and stay with it.
He alluded to giving himself "a few birdie looks."
"I took my opportunities where there were some birdie holes," Engle said, "and made par where some holes where tougher."
However, he's hoping that his team is in position to win on Tuesday.
Troy is atop the leaderboard with 583 followed by GRU Augusta (587). Lipscomb is third with 590, while Southern Miss (593) and Ohio State (593) round out the Top 5.
The rest of the field is College of Charleston (599), Middle Tennessee (600), Tennessee Tech (600), Mississippi State (601), Cincinnati (604), Tulsa (607) and Belmont (611).
"The Grove makes it special," said Middle Tennessee head coach Whit Turnbow, who spent the past nine months planning the first of what he envisions as an annual fall tourney for years to come, "and the university does its best to put its best foot forward."
Turnbow acknowledged a team of volunteers from The Grove and the university have gone "out of their way to make sure these players and coaches have a great experience."
Everyone involved has worked to make it a first class event.
From the two-year old course and the practice tees to the hospitality and selection of local hotels, Turnbow, who's already heard from teams regarding the 2015 tournament, and his staff have received "lots of positive comments."
"When everybody has the same mindset that we want this to be one of the best tournaments in the country, that's kind of the way [The Grove] views it," Turnbow said, "you can put on a really quality event."
Turnbow added, "It's going to be a special event and one we continue for many, many years to come."
Darr described the course as phenomenal. He said the fairways are some of the best and the greens are tremendously smooth.
Terry agreed.
"Middle Tennessee always puts on a great event and it's only going to get better," Terry said. "People are going to hear about it and I'm personally going to go out and brag on the golf course and the event. It'll continue to grow and there's definitely some good talent out here."
Turnbow, who took over the Middle Tennessee program from longtime Blue Raiders coach Johnny Moore, was mindful and appreciative of the membership at The Grove giving up their exclusive club for four days.
"I can't say enough about the membership letting us have their golf course for a few days," Turnbow said, "it's pretty tremendous."
The 12-team tournament concludes Tuesday morning with the final round teeing off at 9 a.m. followed by an award ceremony at 4 p.m.
Fans can track live scoring at Golfstat.com.
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