The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a solid start at the Spring Break Shootout. The ladies are 4 under on Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club’s South Course carding 280 over the opening 18 and 284 for the second.
The 564 slots into third behind Western Kentucky (552) and North Florida (560). James Madison (566) is fourth, six ahead of Florida Gulf Coast (572) in fifth. WKU’s Catie Craig is the individual leader with 12-under 130.
“Obviously, we’re happy about where we stand,” Coach Colette Murray said.
“We feel like we didn’t play our best golf. We have one more day, and we’re excited about the opportunity that’s in front of us.”
Violeta Fernandez-Tagle got the morning off to a great start with a career-low 67 (-4). She birdies four of the first seven holes en route to a bogey-free 18. Makenzie Cooper added 70 to the team tally followed by 71 from Nieves Martin and 72 by Giulia Foresta. Kera Healey had the drop score of 73.
Healey led the way in round two with 1-under 70. Fernandez-Tagle and Martin posted 71s with Foresta coming with another 72. Cooper’s 73 was dropped.
Fernandez-Tagle is eighth with her 4-under 138. Martin is tied for 11th level at 142. Cooper and Healey are 1 over in a tie for 14th, while Foresta is one behind them tied for 19th. The Mocs are the only team with all five golfers in the top 20.
There’s a shotgun start to complete the tourney on Tuesday. The Mocs are paired with the Hilltoppers and Osprey off holes 1-3 beginning at 8:45 a.m. Live scoring, including pairings when available, is linked above.
Spring Break Shootout
March 18-19 (M-T) | Dade City, Fla. | 54 holes (36/18)
Lake Jovita G.C. (South) | Par 71 | 6,040 yards
1) Western Kentucky: 271-281=552 (-16)
2) North Florida: 280-280=560 (-8)
3) Chattanooga: 280-284=564 (-4)
4) James Madison: 287-279=566 (-2)
5) Florida Gulf Coast: 287-285=572 (+4)
6) Xavier: 282-292=574 (+6)
7) Jacksonville State: 285-290=575 (+7)
8) Stetson: 288-288=576 (+8)
9) Troy: 287-292=579 (+11)
10) Memphis: 286-299=585 (+17)
11) Butler: 301-290=591 (+23)
12) Toledo: 295-297=592 (+24)
13) St. John’s: 290-308=598 (+30)
14) Akron: 306-296=602 (+34)
Chattanooga Lineup
8) Violeta Fernandez-Tagle: 67-71=138 (-4)
T11) Nieves Martin: 71-71=142 (E)
T14) Makenzie Cooper: 70-73=143 (+1)
T14) Kera Healey: 73-70=143 (+1)
T19) Giulia Foresta: 72-72=144 (+2)
Field (Top 100 ranking)
(75) Chattanooga, Akron, Butler, Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville State, (93) James Madison, Memphis, (86) North Florida, Stetson, St. John’s, Toledo, Troy, (70) Western Kentucky & Xavier