BURLINGTON, IA - Middle Tennessee, led by senior Jason Millard, finished ninth at the Golfweek Conference Challenge. The 54-hole all-star event was held at the par-72, Spirit Hollow Golf Course.
The Blue Raiders, playing with three true freshmen in their lineup, improved their score with each round to finish with an 8-over par, 872 total.
"I am encouraged about this group," said Head Coach Whit Turnbow. "We played better every day as the golf course got harder. Jason (Millard) and Hunter (Green) were solid and proved they are our go-to guys. I was also pleased with the play of our freshmen because they held their own against a very tough field that included 10 teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year."
Host Iowa dominated the event by shooting a 31-under par, 833. North Carolina State was second at 16-under par followed by Liberty at 9-under par. New Mexico was fourth with a 6-under total while Baylor rounded out the top five with a 5-under, 859.
Millard (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) fired an even par 72 on Tuesday to remain in fourth place with a 210 cumulative score. The 210 total tied for the 18th best 54-hole in school history and equaled his score set in the 2009 Golfweek Conference Challenge. Millard had 11 birdies and one eagle for the week.
Hunter Green (Evensville, Tenn.) turned in his best round of the tournament Tuesday with a 1-under par 71 to tie for 26th with a 218 score. Green had 11 birdies for the tournament with five coming in the final round.
Freshman Brett Patterson (McMinnville, Tenn.) was solid in his first collegiate event. Patterson, who had eight birdies and an eagle, tied for 43rd.
Freshman Paul Sansom (Russellville, Kent.) carded his best round of the tournament with an even par 72 in the final round. Sansom tied for 58th with a 226 total and collected nine birdies for the week.
Jordan Jennings (Jefferson City, Tenn.), playing in his first tournament as a freshman, also notched his best round of the week with an even par 72 on Tuesday. Jennings, who had eight birdies for the tournament, shot a 229 to finish 60th.
The Blue Raiders have a short turnaround as they will compete in the Mason Rudolph beginning Friday at the Legends Club in Franklin.
"We will evaluate our lineup Wednesday, take a day off, then get ready for Friday," added Turnbow.
TEAM SCORES
1 Iowa -31 F -8 268 285 280 833
2 North Carolina State -16 F -12 283 289 276 848
3 Liberty University -9 F -17 289 295 271 855
4 New Mexico -6 F -3 288 285 285 858
5 Baylor -5 F -2 285 288 286 859
6 Campbell University -3 F +1 289 283 289 861
7 San Francisco, U. of +6 F -1 292 291 287 870
8 Southeastern La. U. +7 F +1 285 297 289 871
9 Middle Tennessee +8 F -1 294 291 287 872
10 East Carolina Univ. +18 F -3 290 307 285 882
11 UC-Irvine +20 F +1 297 298 289 884
12 Nevada, Univ. of +23 F +10 299 290 298 887
13 Eastern Michigan U. +26 F +16 298 288 304 890
14 Furman University +34 F +7 300 303 295 898
15 VCU +39 F +8 306 301 296 903
MT SCORES
T4 Jason Millard (1) 71 67 72 210
T26 Hunter Green (2) 73 74 71 218
T43 Brett Patterson (4) 73 76 74 223
T58 Paul Sansom (3) 80 74 72 226
61 Jordan Jennings (5) 77 80 72 229
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