The Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf team is in 10th-place after close to 36 holes at the Hayt Collegiate. Darkness halted the last two holes for a few teams, while the Mocs completed their appointed rounds with scores of 297 and 292 at Sawgrass Country Club.
Garrett Engle and John Houk had the low first 18 with matching 73s (+1). Engle’s was especially impressive after a slow start. He was 5 over through eight holes but responded with five birdies on the remaining holes to tie Houk.
Braedon Wear was next with 75, one better than Paul Conroy’s 76 as the final counting card.
Samuel Espinosa had the early drop tally of 77.
Espinosa had a big response. He shot 2-under 70 in afternoon to lead the 5-stroke improvement. Wear was next with 73 followed by Conroy’s 74 and Houk’s 75. Engle’s 76 was the drop score.
Chattanooga is two shots behind ninth-place Alabama at 587 and three clear of UAB in 11th (592). Vanderbilt is the team leader at 557, eight ahead of host North Florida. The Commodores Gordon Sargent is the individual leader with 10-under 134.
The Mocs return to the tee Monday for a final 18 after the remaining collective completes its final 18.
The Hayt Collegiate
Feb. 5-6 (Sun-Mon) | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Lineup
Team: 10th of 14, 297-292=589 (+13)
T31) Samuel Espinosa: 77-70=147 (+3)
T37) Braedon Wear: 75-73=148 (+4)
T37) John Houk: 73-75=148 (+4)
T47) Garrett Engle: 73-76=149 (+5)
T53) Paul Conroy: 76-74=150 (+6)
Course
Sawgrass C.C. | Par 72 | 6,966 yards
Field
(63) Chattanooga, (17) Alabama, UAB, (39) Arkansas, (86) UCF, Coastal Carolina, (60) Florida Gulf Coast, (58) Furman, Jacksonville, Jacksonville St., LA Tech, (42) UNF, North Texas, (2) Vanderbilt