WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Hours of anxious moments for the Middle Tennessee men's golf team ended in satisfaction when the Blue Raiders made the cut for the final round of the NCAA National Championship Saturday morning.

The Blue Raiders' first player, Nick Bailes, teed off at 11:30 p.m., to begin the final round for Middle Tennessee.

"It was a long night and an even longer morning waiting for the teams to complete their third round," said junior Chas Narramore. "We had done our part and there was nothing more we could do but wait and watch. It worked out great and we have a chance to play on the final day of the college golf season."

The top 15 teams out of the 30-team field make the cut and the Blue Raiders were in 17th at 49-over when play was suspended at the Kampen Course due to severe weather Friday evening.

Auburn had a four-shot advantage with three holes remaining but by the time the team arrived at the course Saturday morning, the Tigers had dropped two shots. Auburn, Texas and Indiana all were within striking distance; however, the Tigers finished one shot behind Middle Tennessee as the Blue Raiders moved into 15th to make the cut.

"It's nerve-wrecking and there's anxious moments but it all worked out," Middle Tennessee first-year Head Coach Whit Turnbow said. "I'm proud of these guys. They deserve everything they have earned."

Freshman Jason Millard, a Murfreesboro native, enters the final round tied for 13th individually.

The Middle Tennessee men's golf team is the only team in school history - men or women - to be playing on the final day of their respective sports' national championship during the Division I era. The lowest the Blue Raiders can finish is 15th, which also is the highest team finish nationally for a Middle Tennessee program.

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