The 23rd-ranked Chattanooga Mocs battled to the end but dug too deep an early hole. The Mocs finished as runners-up in the weather-shortened (36 holes) Battle at Briar’s Creek. The Mocs finished at 1-over 577, two behind the Clemson Tigers.
The Mocs opened the day at 4 under restarting the suspended first round from inclement weather on Monday. The struggle was real playing the final 9-12 holes at 6 over and 14 shots off the pace set by the Tigers at 280.
Just as they did throughout the fall, the Mocs were resilient.
The group tallied 5-under 283 to soar up the leaderboard but ending two shy of Clemson in the end. The final 18 was cancelled due to rain, gale-force winds and storms on Monday.
“Proud of how the guys fought and made a charge in the second round,” Coach Blaine Woodruff shared. “It just wasn’t quite enough, especially when the event is shortened to 36 holes…the margins get smaller. I feel like we learned a valuable lesson this week not finishing the first round the right way. If we want to be an elite program, we need to be better knowing there are 18 fewer holes.”
Junior Braedon Wear had the day’s low round with a 5-under 67. That pushed him 27 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for second at 3-under 141. It’s the seventh top 3 in five events for the Mocs with Wear joining Paul Conroy, Samuel Espinosa and John Houk who have two apiece.
“Really excited about Braedon’s play,” Woodruff added. “That was a heck of a round today. It’s the first time he’s walked more than 18 holes since his surgery in October. He’s the definition of a gritty competitor.
“It also shows the depth of this squad. Four different players with top 3 finishes shows the way our guys compete.”
Houk was next on the Mocs list with level-par 144 tying for 13th with matching 72s. An eagle at the par 5 18th moved Espinosa into a tie for 15th, one behind Houk. Espinosa followed up a 74 with 71 in the afternoon. Conroy shot 73 for a 147 total, while Garrett Engle turned in two cards of 75.
Clemson and Chattanooga were followed by Augusta (579), Indiana (581) and Elon (582) in the top 5. Lipscomb’s Ford Goldasich was medalist at 4 under, one clear of Wear and Clemson’s Andrew Swanson.
The Mocs head west in two weeks for the Prestige. It’s hosted at PGA West in Palm Desert, Calif. The 3-day, 54-hole tourney is Feb. 19-21.
Battle at Briar’s Creek
Feb. 5-6 (Mon-Tue) | Johns Island, S.C.
G.C. at Briar’s Creek | Par 72 | 7,175 yards | 54 holes (36/18)
Lineup
2nd of 14: 294-283=577 (+1)
T2) Braedon Wear: 74-67=141 (-3)
T13) John Houk: 72-72=144 (E)
T15) Samuel Espinosa: 74-71=145 (+1)
T25) Paul Conroy: 74-73=147 (+3)
T39) Garrett Engle: 75-75=150 (+6)
Field
(23) Chattanooga, Augusta, Boston College, Campbell, College of Charleston, Clemson, Elon, Indiana, Kentucky, Lipscomb, Maryland, Nebraska, UNCW & Virginia Tech