SAN DIEGO---The Chattanooga Mocs completed the 2023-24 season finishing 10th at the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regionals. Today's 286 gave the team a total of 868 at the Farms Golf Club.
Today's score was led by
Samuel Espinosa's 69.
Paul Conroy added 71 with a pair of 73s from
John Houk and
Garrett Engle.
Braedon Wear's 75 was the drop score.
Espinosa also led on the 54-hole ledger.
He shot 4-over 214 which was one better than Houk's 215. Engle shot 218 with Conroy tallying 221 for the three days. Wear came in with 229.
"It was still a really good year," Coach
Blaine Woodruff shared amid the disappointment from not advancing. "It didn't end the way we wanted it to, obviously, but we actually still had a lot of good play. We just made too many mistakes and in a region like this where the field was stacked and on this golf course, you just can't make the mistakes that we did.
"It doesn't take away from what this group's done. Especially these three seniors that just finished their last round with us. I couldn't be more proud of what they've given to this program and who they've become as people more importantly than golfers."
That trio was Conroy, Houk and Espinosa. They combined for four wins, 25 top 5s and 37 top 10s in their careers. In two years together as teammates, they led the squad to six wins, two NCAA Tournaments and one NCAA Finals. Conroy, who spent his entire career at Chattanooga played in three regionals.
Oklahoma surged to the team win with a final round 269. The Sooners 3 under total was the lone under par finish. They're joined by Cal, Oklahoma State, West Virginia and North Florida to advance to the NCAA Championships finals returning next week to San Diego. The individual berth was claimed by San Diego's Andi Xu at 4 under.
That completes the Mocs season. Keep an eye on summer updates on GoMocs.com.
NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regionals
May 13-15 (Mon-Wed) | Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. | 54 holes (18 per day)
Farms G.C. | Par 70 | 6,962 yards
1) Oklahoma: 284-284-269=837 (-3)
2) Cal: 280-284-279=843 (+3)
3) Oklahoma State: 278-288-279=845 (+5)
tie) West Virginia: 285-280-280=845 (+5)
5) North Florida: 277-286-287=850 (+10)
CUTLINE
6) Arizona State: 286-285-284=855 (+15)
7) San Diego: 285-284-288=857 (+17)
8) Washington: 290-291-279=860 (+20)
9) South Florida: 293-288-281=862 (+22)
10) Chattanooga: 294-288-286=868 (+28)
11) Kansas: 297-298-288=883 (+43)
12) Wright State: 298-306-289=893 (+53)
13) Seton Hall: 302-303-293=898 (+58)
14) Winthrop: 305-308-303=916 (+76)
Mocs:
T22)
Samuel Espinosa: 75-70-69=214 (+4)
T25)
John Houk: 71-71-73=215 (+5)
T37)
Garrett Engle: 76-69-73=218 (+8)
T42)
Paul Conroy: 72-78-71=221 (+11)
T63)
Braedon Wear: 76-78-75=229 (+19)
Notes…
- 10th team appearance at NCAA Regionals.
- 868 is the fifth-best total in NCAA Postseason play for the program…two behind 2-over 866 last season advancing at Auburn.
- Houk's 72.33 scoring average (9 rounds) in NCAA Postseason is best in Mocs history…he passes All-American Chris Robb's 72.61 (18 cards).
- Also in the top 10: T4th, Espinosa (73.00); 6th, Garrett Engle (73.11) & 7th, Paul Conroy (73.42).
Field By Seed (Ranking)
1 – (3) Arizona State
2 – (10) Washington
3 – (16) Oklahoma
4 – (22) Cal
5 – (26) Oklahoma State
6 – (34) North Florida
7 – (38) Chattanooga
8 – (46) South Florida
9 – (50) San Diego
10 – (58) West Virginia
11 – (67) Kansas
12 – (124) Wright State
13 – (166) Seton Hall
14 – (192) Winthrop