The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team jumped into third-place at the Southern Conference Championships after a 1-under 287 today at Pinehurst National No. 9. That gives the Mocs a two-day total of 583 (+7).
Oliver Simonsen led the way with 4-under 68. He made his way around the Jack Nicklaus-designed tract with six birdies, 10 pars and a mere two bogeys on his card. It was the top individual tally with just three players to break 70 being joined by Nick Lyerly (69) of UNCG and Stephen Reynolds (69) from Furman.
The counting cards were closed out with 73s.
The trio of Will Porter, Etienne Brault and Lake Johnson came in one after the after with the 1-over score. Connor Nolan dropped a 77.
The 287 was the low round of the day over ETSU’s 292. That made up seven shots on UNCG’s first round lead. The Spartans remain in first with 577 followed by the Bucs at 581. The Mocs are seven back in third, five clear of the duo of Furman and Mercer with 588. Wofford (603) moved into sixth ahead of Samford (610) and Western Carolina (627).
Lyerly holds the 36-hole lead at 6-under 138. ETSU’s Shiso Go is second at 139 with Simonsen just two off the pace in third. Samford’s Connor Reid is fourth at 1 under. Johnson is tied for 10th at 3 over, while Nolan remains in the top 20, tied for 17th at 149. Brault and Porter are matched in 23rd with 151.
Today’s total is he second-best at No. 9 for the program. The 2013-14 team managed 284 (-4) also in round two. That group finished second by a stroke behind Chris Robb’s 8-under runner-up finish. Their 36-hole score of 583 is the best since 2014’s 581 which trailed eventual winner Georgia Southern by a shot.
Chattanooga returns to the tee at 7:30 a.m., paired with Furman off No. 1. Porter leads off followed by Brault (7:39), Nolan (7:48), Johnson (7:57) and Simonsen (8:06). Complete results, live scoring and pairings are linked above.
LINEUP
Team: 3rd of 8 | 296-287=583 (+7)
3) Oliver Simonsen: 72-68=140 (-4)
T10) Lake Johnson: 74-73=147 (+3)
T17) Connor Nolan: 72-77=149 (+5)
T23) Will Porter: 78-73=151 (+7)
T23) Etienne Brault: 78-73=151 (+7)