The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team shot 302 in the opening round of the Tiger Invitational at the Grand National Lake Course. The Mocs are tied for 14th with Troy, one behind 13th-place UNCW. South Alabama is one back in 16th at 303.
Junior Lake Johnson picked up where he left off from the fall turning in an even-par 72. He’s tied for 16th overall. Will Porter carded 76, while Luke Long and Etienne Brault rounded out the counting cards with 77s.
The Mocs started the day on the back nine.
Early birdies from Johnson, Brault and Long got the day started right, but the group dropped four strokes at 17 and 18 to make the turn at 5 over. The front nine proved stingy with just six birdies as they came back in at 9 over.
No. 9 Auburn has the lead shooting 281. Kennesaw State in second at 284 followed by Mississippi State with 289. KSU’s Pablo Rodriguez-Tabernero leads individually at 6 under.
LINEUP
T16) Lake Johnson: 72 (E)
T53) Will Porter: 76 (+4)
T64) Luke Long: 77 (+5)
T64) Etienne Brault: 77 (+5)
T92) A.J. Lintunen: 86 (+14)