MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Golfweek has named the Middle Tennessee men's golf team as its "National Team of the Week," for the fourth time in the last two years after Middle Tennessee came from 11 shots back to win the Mason Rudolph on Sunday.
"It is great recognition and publicity for our team," Middle Tennessee Head Coach Whit Turnbow said. "It was an unbelievable tournament last week and went a long way to showing people the type of program we have. It's not every day you take down two top 10 programs in the same day."
The Blue Raiders rallied with a final round total of 273 and defeated 10th ranked South Carolina in a sudden-death playoff to capture the team championship on the par-71, 7,100-yard South Course at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. Middle Tennessee and South Carolina each finished with an 11-under par, 556, one stroke better than third place Arkansas State, who carded a 557 (272-285). Third-ranked Georgia Tech came in fourth with a 559 host Vanderbilt finished in sixth place with a six-under par, 563 (280-283).
Craig Smith, Jason Millard, and Hunter Green combined to shoot 12-under on Sunday to key the first victory of the season. Millard, who opened with a 74 on Friday, bounced back in resounding fashion with a 5-under par 66 that included six birdies and a 31 on the front nine. Millard finished tied for 16th.
Smith had two rounds in the 60s to lead the Blue Raiders and finished in a tie for fourth. The senior had a 69 on Friday then came back with a 68 Sunday for a 137 total.
The Blue Raiders are currently ranked No. 34 by GolfStat.com and No. 43 by GolfWeek.
The Blue Raiders will be back in action Oct. 5-6 at the Squire Creek Classic in Ruston, La.