NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Golden Bears golf team had a final opportunity to get in competitive rounds prior to the SIAC Tournament by competing in the Big Blue Intercollegiate Tournament, hosted by Tennessee State on Apr. 6-7. The field was loaded with Division I programs - mostly HBCU programs - and Miles held its own over the first two rounds before fading towards a seventh place finish in the 11-team field at the Hermitage Golf Club.

The Golden Bears shot a collective 26-over through the three rounds, 19 shots behind eventual winner Florida A&M, but was in fifth place heading into the final round on Tuesday. Zostrianos Giordani-Gross led the way for the team scorers, shooting 1-over 145 through those first two rounds. He had the fifth-best score in the second round and while the 13-shot difference seemed problematic, Miles had done well over the past month in the final rounds of its tournaments to give itself a chance at another strong finish.

Unfortunately, things did not close out well for the Golden Bears in the final round. The back of the lineup left shots on the course as other teams began to surge. Braydon Moye was the only player to shoot even par in the final round while multiple teams had several players go under par as they began to move up the team and individual leaderboards. Still, Miles had four players finish in the top-20, led by Giordani-Gross who finished tied for ninth at 2-over 218. Jerris Baker played just as an individual and did not count towards the team score but had one of his best outings this season. He was 2-under through the first round and finished 3-over 219, tied for 13th. Moye and Adrian Raya were tied for 17th at 5-over 221.

The Golden Bears look to win consecutive conference titles when they compete in the SIAC Championship at Tunica National Golf Course in Mississippi beginning Apr. 20.