ORLANDO, Fla. - Middle Tennessee picked up its 20th top five finish in 31 tournaments under Head Coach Whit Turnbow as the Blue Raiders battled back to place fifth at the Rio Pinar Invitational on Tuesday.
Middle Tennessee shot a 54-hole total of 883 after carding a 1-under par 287 in the final round.
Host UCF won the event followed by Charlotte, North Florida, and North Texas.
"With all we faced this week I am very proud of the way our guys competed," said Turnbow. "We battled and came away with a nice finish."
Senior Craig Smith fired a 2-under par 69 to tie for 12th overall with a 218 total. Smith has now had five rounds this season in the 60s.
Hunter Green, who had to withdraw the first two rounds due to food poisoning, made his return Tuesday. The sophomore did not disappoint as he shot a 1-under par 71.
"Craig and Hunter played great today," said Turnbow.
Jason Millard tied for 21st with a 222 while Kent Bulle tied for 27th with a 223. Bulle had an even par 72 on Tuesday.
Brad Simons, who opened with a 70, struggled for the second consecutive round with a 78. Simons tied for 50th with a 227 score.
The Blue Raiders have a short window to get ready for the prestigious Callway Match Play Championship that will be held March 21-23. The event, which pits some of the elite programs in the country, will be played at Dove Mountain in Marana, Ariz.
"We have to get rested and ready to go," added Turnbow. "It is a great field and a tremendous test of golf. We have to be firing on all cylinders but our guys are excited about the opportunity."
TEAM SCORES
1 UCF 279 290 281 850 -14
2 Charlotte 291 293 285 869 +5
3 North Florida, U. of 293 297 288 878 +14
4 North Texas, U. of 291 293 295 879 +15
5 Middle Tennessee 289 307 287 883 +19
6 Southern Mississippi 293 309 285 887 +23
7 Liberty University 295 299 294 888 +24
8 Louisiana-Lafayette 294 308 287 889 +25
9 Toledo, U. of 296 302 292 890 +26
10 Miami (Ohio) 304 296 295 895 +31
11 Wichita State Univ. 298 302 299 899 +35
12 Akron, U. of 299 303 301 903 +39
13 Charleston, Coll. of 305 304 295 904 +40
14 South Alabama, U. of 302 300 303 905 +41
15 Florida Atlantic U. 303 307 298 908 +44
So. Florida, U. of 306 302 300 908 +44
17 UT-Arlington 293 316 309 918 +54
18 Marquette University 308 314 298 920 +56
MT SCORES
T 12 Craig Smith 72 77 69 218
T 21 Jason Millard 72 75 75 222
T 27 Kent Bulle 75 76 72 223
T 50 Brad Simons 70 79 78 227
WD Hunter Green WD WD 71
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