Blue Raider golf team set to open fall season

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee men's golf team will get its 2005 fall season underway on Monday at the Cobb/Ferrell Mean Green Classic in Denton, Tex. The 54-hole event will begin on Monday with 36 holes at the Lantana Golf Course while the final 18 will be played on Tuesday. The 14-team field consists of host North Texas, Middle Tennessee, Oral Roberts, Sam Houston, Texas State, Texas-San Antonio, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Houston, Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, and Louisiana Tech. "This is a very competitive field and will give us a barometer of where we stand quickly," said Head Coach Johnny Moore. "It's a very challenging course that will test our entire game right out of the gate." In a little different format, the Blue Raiders will be allowed to play six players and count four scores rather than the customary five. This marks the first time in recent memory Middle Tennessee has been able to take six golfers. "It's something I wish we could do more often, especially early in the season," said Moore. "It really helps out our evaluation of players." Four newcomers will make up the six-man team for the Blue Raiders, including two true freshmen. Veterans Nick Bailes and Josh Nelms will make the trip along with newcomers Rick Cochran, Chas Narramore, Derrick Bright, and Spencer Provow. The Blue Raiders had a 72-hole qualifying tournament at Stones River Country Club and Old Fort Golf Course to select the top six. Bailes, the team's top golfer a year ago, won the event while Cochran and Provow stood out among the newcomers. "These guys are inexperienced with Middle Tennessee but not inexperienced as far as golf goes," said Moore. "We have only had two weeks of practice but I believe they will be fine. They have worked hard." The season's first tournament will be a challenge mentally as well with both days being extremely hot and with 36 holes on Monday it will be quite a test for Moore's young squad. "The weather forecast has both days at 98 degrees so we will have to be prepared," Moore stated. "We have not seen heat like we will see on Monday." Following the Cobb/Ferrell Mean Green Classic, Middle Tennessee will not play again until the Mason Rudolph in Nashville on Sept. 30. Next week's scheduled Jaguar Invitational in Mobile, Ala., was cancelled earlier this week due to Hurricane Katrina.

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Nick Bailes

Derrick Bright

Rick Cochran

Chas Narramore

Josh Nelms

Spencer Provow

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