JOHNSON CITY, TN – Battling from behind, Walters State jumped five teams in the final round of the East Tennessee Collegiate on Tuesday, claiming a tie for second place at the Johnson City Country Club. 

The Senators improved their score by a whopping 12 shots on Tuesday, shooting a 2-under, 286, to finish at eight-over for the tournament. It was the best round of the young season for Walters State. 

Milligan University won the tournament with a 2-over team score. The Senators tied for second with UT Southern. 

Leading the way for Walters State in the final round was JT McKenzie. McKenzie finished in a tie for sixth place with a two-round score of 1-over. On Tuesday, McKenzie shot a 3-under, 69, as he shot four-under on the front nine to close the round out strong. McKenzie birdied holes one, three, five and nine on the front nine and holes 11 and 13 on the back nine. 

Ashton Pratt was the next golfer for Walters State as he finished in a tie for 12th at 3-over. Pratt shot a 1-under, 71, on Tuesday with three straight birdies on holes 15-17. He shot 2-under on the back nine. 

Sawyer Spoone and AJ Rinehart tied for 17th in the tournament with a four-over tournament score. Both Spoone and Rinehart shot a 1-over, 73, on Tuesday with Rinehart birdieing holes one and six and Spoone birdieing hole three and holes 12-14. 

Jeremy Ellis rounded out the tournament for the Senators with a 5-over, good enough for a tie for 22nd. Ellis birdied holes 13 and 17 on Tuesday on his way to shooting a 5-over, 77. 

UT Southern's Shane Lillis won the tournament with a 5-under. 

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Oct. 10 for the first round of the Walters State Fall Classic at The Country Club. 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics