The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team opened the Linger Longer Invitational with a season-best 5-under 283. Senior Andrew Weathers led the strong start with a 4-under 68.
The team is fifth while Weathers is tied for sixth. It was a great team effort with 1-under 71s from Lake Johnson and Etienne Brault along with a 1-over 73 by Luke Long. Oliver Simonsen posted a good drop score with 74.
Georgia leads over No. 8 Alabama by five shots. The Bulldogs posted 272 while the Tide came in at 277.
Penn State is third at 278 followed by Ohio State with 281, just two ahead of the Mocs. Virginia is sixth at 286.
Chattanooga started on the 10th hole. It tallied just six birdies across the five cards turning at 1 over among the eventual counters. The group was 2 over through 10 before playing the par 5 second hole 3 under with an eagle from Weathers and birdie by Johnson.
The par 5 sixth was pivotal. Simonsen, Long, Weathers and Johnson recorded birdies with Brault earning an eagle three. It propelled a seven-under run over the final four holes to shoot UTC up the leaderboard.
The Mocs 283 is the best round since 10-under 278 in the second round of the 2017 Furman Intercollegiate. It's the top starting card since turning in 283 to begin the 2016 AutoTrader Collegiate.