Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders reload to return to NCAA Regionals
5/2/2019 11:37:00 AM | Men's Golf
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Not much was expected of Mark McEntire's first season as men's golf coach at Middle Tennessee, yet he has the program right back to where it's become accustomed: in the NCAA Regionals.
The former College of Charleston head man was hired at MT on July 25, 2018 when Brennan Webb left for Tennessee after three seasons with the Blue Raiders. Following two straight trips to the NCAA Regionals and a Conference USA title in 2018, the program was facing questions as to how quickly the success would continue under its new general.
McEntire has answered those questions, leading a new-look roster through difficulties to reach their ultimate goal. With a thrilling 3-2 victory in match play over top-seeded UTSA on April 24, MT won its second straight Conference USA Championship at Arkansas' Texarkana Country Club and advanced to its third NCAA Regional in a row. It'll play in the Myrtle Beach Regional, hosted by Coastal Carolina, at TPC Myrtle Beach on May 13-15.
"Conference was a week where it just kind of came together for us," McEntire said. "I'd be lying to you if I told you at the beginning of the season I thought we could pull it together and win the conference tournament … but it was a complete team effort. It was magical."
The conference title was the culmination of a trying season for McEntire and his squad.
Before he'd even taken his team to a tournament in the fall, a couple of the new head coach's key returning pieces transferred, then senior leader Marcus Byrd was lost until February due to an injury.
Along with senior James Beckner, McEntire was forced to fill his fall lineup with junior Tanner Owens, who at the time had a 75.3 stroke average in 23 career rounds; senior Graham Gosselin, who'd competed in seven tournaments in three seasons; and freshmen Palmer Sadlowski, Jake Marvelli and Josh Morris.
"Coach McEntire sent us a text message at the beginning of the year saying we were going to be the best story in college golf, and I honestly didn't believe him," Beckner said. "But, he continually preached to us that we are the best team he's ever coached and could accomplish so much."
When MT most needed to participate in tournaments in the fall to gain experience, Mother Nature didn't help. The Raiders' season-opening tournament in Cincinnati was cancelled, then only two rounds could be finished at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate hosted by LA Tech.
At the conclusion of the fall season, McEntire's squad had played in only three events, finishing eight total rounds and placing 10th, 10th and seventh.
While it was a long first semester at his new job, McEntire never lost hope. Owens and Beckner produced solid fall seasons, and though it was his first taste of college golf, Sadlowski looked like he belonged. All McEntire needed was two reinforcements.
Knowing he'd get Byrd back in February, McEntire found his last piece in Vanderbilt transfer Cooper Sears, a sophomore who played in just two tournaments for the Commodores as a freshman.
"It really was a tale of two semesters," McEntire said. "We knew we were going to get Cooper early, and Marcus got healthy. Tanner and James played really well in the fall, and we felt that if we could get them some help in the spring, we'd have a chance."
With a solid roster in place and healthy, the Blue Raiders flashed their potential in their first two spring tournaments. Sears led the way by earning co-medalist at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, then Byrd followed with co-medalist honors of his own at the Puerto Rico Classic.
"Adding Cooper and Marcus made all the difference for the spring lineup," Beckner said. "The whole charisma of the team changed. We were much more confident and believed that if we all peaked at the right time, we could win anything."
Middle Tennessee kept getting more consistent from there, and the Blue Raiders used their momentum to ride into the C-USA Championships on fire.
They breezed through the three rounds of stroke play, finishing second at 4-over as Sears fired a 4-under 212 to finish tied for second individually. Beckner also had a career day in the final round, posting a personal-best 68 to help catapult the team into match play.
After winning in comeback fashion over Charlotte in its first match, MT found itself in a dogfight with UTSA in the title bout. They went all the way down to the wire, tied at 2 wins apiece as the last pair went to extra holes.
On the sixth playoff hole, Sears drained a birdie putt from inside 10 feet after his opponent missed a 20-foot putt, finally sealing the victory.
"Sinking that last putt meant everything to me because of all the hardship this newly developed team has gone through this year," the sophomore Mount Juliet, Tennessee native said. "That putt was almost like a childhood dream to have a putt of that nature, and to make in that fashion was simply remarkable. It definitely felt like an out-of-body experience."
The conference win qualifies Middle Tennessee for its third NCAA Regional in a row. It's also McEntire's fifth in the last six seasons after he captured four Colonial Athletic Association championships from 2014-17 while at College of Charleston.
Winning the C-USA crown may have come as a surprise to some – even some of the Blue Raiders didn't think it would be possible at the beginning of the season.
Thanks to some perfectly timed reinforcements and coming together at the right time, though, MT looks dangerous as it readies to travel to Myrtle Beach. Thank its first-year head coach for that.
"Coach McEntire brought a much-needed confidence to the team," Beckner said. "He kept telling us how good we are, everything we can accomplish, and to not give up on this year."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
The former College of Charleston head man was hired at MT on July 25, 2018 when Brennan Webb left for Tennessee after three seasons with the Blue Raiders. Following two straight trips to the NCAA Regionals and a Conference USA title in 2018, the program was facing questions as to how quickly the success would continue under its new general.
McEntire has answered those questions, leading a new-look roster through difficulties to reach their ultimate goal. With a thrilling 3-2 victory in match play over top-seeded UTSA on April 24, MT won its second straight Conference USA Championship at Arkansas' Texarkana Country Club and advanced to its third NCAA Regional in a row. It'll play in the Myrtle Beach Regional, hosted by Coastal Carolina, at TPC Myrtle Beach on May 13-15.
"Conference was a week where it just kind of came together for us," McEntire said. "I'd be lying to you if I told you at the beginning of the season I thought we could pull it together and win the conference tournament … but it was a complete team effort. It was magical."
The conference title was the culmination of a trying season for McEntire and his squad.
Before he'd even taken his team to a tournament in the fall, a couple of the new head coach's key returning pieces transferred, then senior leader Marcus Byrd was lost until February due to an injury.
Along with senior James Beckner, McEntire was forced to fill his fall lineup with junior Tanner Owens, who at the time had a 75.3 stroke average in 23 career rounds; senior Graham Gosselin, who'd competed in seven tournaments in three seasons; and freshmen Palmer Sadlowski, Jake Marvelli and Josh Morris.
"Coach McEntire sent us a text message at the beginning of the year saying we were going to be the best story in college golf, and I honestly didn't believe him," Beckner said. "But, he continually preached to us that we are the best team he's ever coached and could accomplish so much."
When MT most needed to participate in tournaments in the fall to gain experience, Mother Nature didn't help. The Raiders' season-opening tournament in Cincinnati was cancelled, then only two rounds could be finished at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate hosted by LA Tech.
At the conclusion of the fall season, McEntire's squad had played in only three events, finishing eight total rounds and placing 10th, 10th and seventh.
While it was a long first semester at his new job, McEntire never lost hope. Owens and Beckner produced solid fall seasons, and though it was his first taste of college golf, Sadlowski looked like he belonged. All McEntire needed was two reinforcements.
Knowing he'd get Byrd back in February, McEntire found his last piece in Vanderbilt transfer Cooper Sears, a sophomore who played in just two tournaments for the Commodores as a freshman.
"It really was a tale of two semesters," McEntire said. "We knew we were going to get Cooper early, and Marcus got healthy. Tanner and James played really well in the fall, and we felt that if we could get them some help in the spring, we'd have a chance."
With a solid roster in place and healthy, the Blue Raiders flashed their potential in their first two spring tournaments. Sears led the way by earning co-medalist at the Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, then Byrd followed with co-medalist honors of his own at the Puerto Rico Classic.
"Adding Cooper and Marcus made all the difference for the spring lineup," Beckner said. "The whole charisma of the team changed. We were much more confident and believed that if we all peaked at the right time, we could win anything."
Middle Tennessee kept getting more consistent from there, and the Blue Raiders used their momentum to ride into the C-USA Championships on fire.
They breezed through the three rounds of stroke play, finishing second at 4-over as Sears fired a 4-under 212 to finish tied for second individually. Beckner also had a career day in the final round, posting a personal-best 68 to help catapult the team into match play.
After winning in comeback fashion over Charlotte in its first match, MT found itself in a dogfight with UTSA in the title bout. They went all the way down to the wire, tied at 2 wins apiece as the last pair went to extra holes.
On the sixth playoff hole, Sears drained a birdie putt from inside 10 feet after his opponent missed a 20-foot putt, finally sealing the victory.
"Sinking that last putt meant everything to me because of all the hardship this newly developed team has gone through this year," the sophomore Mount Juliet, Tennessee native said. "That putt was almost like a childhood dream to have a putt of that nature, and to make in that fashion was simply remarkable. It definitely felt like an out-of-body experience."
The conference win qualifies Middle Tennessee for its third NCAA Regional in a row. It's also McEntire's fifth in the last six seasons after he captured four Colonial Athletic Association championships from 2014-17 while at College of Charleston.
Winning the C-USA crown may have come as a surprise to some – even some of the Blue Raiders didn't think it would be possible at the beginning of the season.
Thanks to some perfectly timed reinforcements and coming together at the right time, though, MT looks dangerous as it readies to travel to Myrtle Beach. Thank its first-year head coach for that.
"Coach McEntire brought a much-needed confidence to the team," Beckner said. "He kept telling us how good we are, everything we can accomplish, and to not give up on this year."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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