The Chattanooga Mocs made a run but fell short ending up second at the Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championships. They cut UNCG’s 12-stroke lead to as little as three before finishing five shots back on another rainy day at Pinehurst No. 9.
The margin was cut in half over the first six holes and was down to five at the turn. Birdies at 10 by Andrew Weathers and Lake Johnson and another by Johnson at 11 cut it to three. But the Mocs couldn’t get closer.
The Spartans steadied down the stretch behind medalist Nick Lyerly.
They pushed it back to seven as the Mocs dropped strokes at 12, 13 and 14. UNCG played the final five holes at 3 over, while UTC cut the lead by two going 1 over.
“I felt like we had a really good game plan coming out of our team meeting last night,” Coach Mark Guhne said. “They went out and executed. A 5-over par round of golf on a day like this, it’s a pretty good round of golf.
“The guys got it close coming down the stretch putting a little heat on (UNCG). Greensboro’s got a good team and it was a fun day playing (with them).“
Weathers led the way with a 1-under 71 which tied for the third-best mark in the field today. The senior from Chattanooga sank a birdie putt on the 18th adding some drama with groups still on the course.
“It was great to see Andrew finish his career like that,” Guhne added. “He works so very hard, and he’s going to graduate in a couple of weeks. I knew he was really upset with himself yesterday. For him to come back today and put it together doing what he did…he’s got a ton of fight in him.”
He was joined on the counting cards with Johnson (73), Luke Long (74) and Etienne Brault (75). Will Porter’s 80 was the drop score. Weathers and Johnson ended up tied for seventh overall at 5 over. Long tied for 13th at +9 with Porter (+12) and Brault (+13) tied for 18th and 20th, respectively.
UNCG finished with 882 (+18) ahead of the Mocs at 887. ETSU was third with 891 followed by Furman (901), Mercer (905), Samford (913), Western Carolina (933) and Wofford (952). Lyerly was a four-shot winner at 4-under 212.
Chattanooga was the only team in the field with all five player not only in `the top 20 but in the top 30 as well.
LINEUP
T7) Andrew Weathers: 73-77-71=221 (+5)
T7) Lake Johnson: 74-74-73=221 (+5)
T13) Luke Long: 76-75-74=225 (+9)
T18) Will Porter: 70-78-80=228 (+12)
T20) Etienne Brault: 73-81-75=229 (+13)