Raiders vault up leaderboard on final day at Vanderbilt

Sunday, April 7

Franklin, TN

All Day

Middle Tennessee

Mason Rudolph Championship

4/7/2019 6:53:00 PM | Men's Golf

MT moves up seven spots in final 18 holes into tie for fourth

By: @MTAthletics

Final Results

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – With rain in the forecast and a full third round in question, Middle Tennessee men's golf went to work on Sunday at Vanderbilt Legends Club looking to sneak past some of its competitors and move up from its 11^th place position entering the day.

The Blue Raiders turned in a 1-under par 283 on a day when only three other teams managed to come in the clubhouse below par in the rainy conditions, earning a tie for fourth in the final team standings at 1-under par (282-286-283=851) with Top 50 wins over No. 41 Marquette (+6) and No. 45 Northwestern (+7).

"I am really proud of my team this week," head coach Mark McEntire said. "Today the conditions were very difficult and required much patience with two rain delays, but we showed today that we can play with the best teams in the country."

Other teams the Blue Raiders moved past or equal to on moving day included Kentucky (-1), Coastal Carolina (-1), WKU (-1), ETSU (+1) and Memphis (+2).

The only three teams to come out on top of the Blue Raiders in Franklin were No. 4 Vanderbilt (-29), No. 20 Liberty (-12) and No. 25 Tennessee (-11).

Middle Tennessee's veterans led the way on Sunday as senior Marcus Byrd and junior Tanner Owens carded rounds of 1-under par (70) while senior James Beckner turned in his best round of the week at he right time with an even par 71.

Owens was the top finisher on the week for the Blue Raiders, tying for 15^th at 3-under par (67-73-70=210). Byrd came in one shot back of Owens at 2-under par (70-71-70=211) on the week and tied for 19^th place.

Freshman Palmer Sadlowski joined Beckner with a strong finish to the week with a 1-over par 72 while sophomore Cooper Sears carded a 3-over par 74 on Sunday.

Sears finished the week tied for 21^st in the field of 90 golfers at 1-under par (69-69-74=212)

"Congratulations to Tanner Owens who had a great bounce back from last week," McEntire added. "Marcus and Cooper also played well and we got a great round today from James! It looks like it is all coming together at the right time!"

Middle Tennessee is back in action in just a week, teeing off next Sunday at the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship hosted by Mississippi State in West Point, Mississippi.