Two new recruits are joining the Chattanooga Mocs men’s golf family for the 2023-24 campaign. NCAA Division II transfers Dalton Chuba (Lee) and Caden Hodges (Fayetteville State) are added to an already stellar group.
All five starters return in PING All-Region picks Paul Conroy and John Houk, fellow All-Southern Conference selections Samuel Espinosa and Garett Engle, along with Braedon Wear who turned in the squad’s low round at the NCAA Championships in Scottsdale, Ariz. The first three listed are rising seniors, while Engle and Wear are juniors.
Add to that junior Carson Johnson and sophomore Nick Etherton who both made starts during 2022-23.
Chuba and Hodges join incoming freshman Ward Harris in the class of 2023 signing class to grow the roster to 10 from the 9-man group that rose to No. 41 in the rankings. Harris, fresh off a top 5 at the Southern Junior Championship and qualification for U.S. Junior Am, is one of the top young amateurs in the state of Alabama.
“This adds a great deal of competition to our team,” Coach Blaine Woodruff explained. “Caden and Dalton both have the competitive drive to be the best they can be every day. They aren’t afraid to earn what comes their way. That fits right into our culture and environment.
“I look forward to the guys coming back, and the opportunities we have ahead of us this year.”
Hodges fits right in on the scoring side. He was just 1 over (72.82) for his first collegiate season at Fayetteville State. He earned CIAA Golfer of the Year and Rookie of the Year winning the CIAA Championships. It was one of five wins on the season for the North Carolina native recording eight top 5s in 11 events including fourth at the NCAA DII Atlantic/East Regionals.
Chuba is a Chattanoogan prepping at Baylor before two seasons at Lee University in nearby Cleveland. He figured prominently in the Flames runner-up finish at the Cougar Invitational tying for 14th after and opening 69. Chuba also contributed to the team wins at the Copperhead Championships and Southeastern Collegiate. His Flames team went to the NCAA Division II Championships finishing in the quarterfinals of match play.
SQUAD BREAKDOWN
Seniors (3): Conroy, Espinosa, Houk
Juniors (4): Chuba, Engle, Johnson, Wear
Sophomores (2): Etherton, Hodges
Freshmen (1): Harris