The Chattanooga Mocs are off and running for 2021-22 with a strong showing at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate. The Mocs shot 286 over the final 18 at Cherokee Country Club to move up to a tie for third against a powerful field.
The 864 total was 10 off the pace of winner BYU. Miami (Fla.) was second with 857 ahead of the trio of UTC, Augusta and UTSA. The Mocs topped sister school and host Tennessee by two, Texas Tech by four and were five clear of Maryland. Other notable wins include Virginia Tech (7 shots), ETSU (9), defending champ Kent State (14), Middle Tennessee (16) and Mercer (26).
The junior duo of Esme Hamilton and Dorota Zalewska led the way.
They finished second overall with 2-under totals of 211. Hamilton was low in the final round at 2 under while Zalewska and freshman Megan Docherty both tallied 72. Carolina Hortian carded 73 to conclude the counting scores with Beatriz Barrios’ 75 serving as the drop number. Docherty ended at 221 for her first 54 collegiate holes. Barrios came in at 227, while Hortian finished with 230.
The 864 team total is the fifth best 54-hole score in school history and best since 856 at the 2019 Princess Anne Invite. Today’s 286 ties for the 11th lowest 18-hole number, while yesterday’s opening 288 is tied for 14th. The 176 holes played par or better on the counting cards, 81.5 percent as a group, is the best since the 2017 Mason Rudolph Championships at Vanderbilt. There was just one score higher than bogey.
The Mocs are right back in action Friday at the aforementioned Mason Rudolph Championships in Franklin, Tenn. They attack the Vanderbilt Legends Club North Course with 18 holes per day concluding Sunday.