The Chattanooga Mocs women’s golf team made things very interesting at the Southern Conference Championships before setting for the eighth runner-up finish in program history Wednesday afternoon. They started the day 10 back of defending champion Furman before flipping the script and giving the Paladins all they wanted in a thrilling ending. The Mocs shot 293 over the final 18 at Columbia Country Club for an 896 total, two shots behind Furman.
"Everyone stayed in the moment and just played their game. They gave themselves a chance to win and as a coach, you can’t ask for more. I’m especially proud of this group coming together as a 4-player unit and getting every ounce out of our day." – Coach Katie Woodruff on the final 18
Tournament Info
SoCon Championships
Dates: April 20-22 | Format: 18/day | Host: SoCon
Course: Columbia CC; Par 72; 6,219 yds | Location: Blythewood, S.C.
Field: Chattanooga, The Citadel, ETSU, Furman, Mercer, UNCG, Samford, Western Carolina, Wofford
Scoring
1) Furman: 289-304-301=894 (+30)
2) Chattanooga: 292-311-293=896 (+32)
3) UNCG: 299-310-301=910 (+46)
4) Samford: 306-305-302=913 (+49)
5) Mercer: 310-307-304=921 (+57)
6) ETSU: 305-309-311=925 (+61)
7) Wofford: 311-308-307=926 (+62)
8) Western Carolina: 309-331-309=949 (+85)
9) The Citadel: 325-337-329=991 (+127)
Mocs in the Field:
T3) Kera Healey: 74-77-71=222 (+6)
T3) Makenzie Cooper: 69-80-73=222 (+6)
T12) Rugile Pauliukonyte: 76-74-76=226 (+10)
T12) Bella Bugg: 73-80-73=226 (+10)
Breakdown
The Mocs went out at 2 over making the turn cutting the deficit in half to five shots. They kept pushing and flipped that by 10 shots into a 5-stroke advantage early on the back nine with an eagle from Bugg and three birdies by Healey powering the ascent.
The lead was four through 15 holes as the teams eyed the finish line. The par 5 16th was a difference maker with the Paladins picking up four strokes. That turned momentum the other way in a two stroke difference.
Played 6 over on the last three holes. 1 under over the first 15.
Chattanooga is the only team to break 300 twice this week with 292 to open and 293 to close. Furman’s opening 289 was the low team tally over three rounds. UNCG had the other sub-score with 299 on opening day.
Cooper led the field in par 4 scoring at 2 under (3.93). Healey was third at 1 over.
All four Mocs finished in the top 15. Last time that happened at tournament’s end (4 Top 15)? 2018: 7, Monica San Juan; T9, H. Morgan; T9, M. Woods; T13, C. Perez.
Healey finished tied for fifth in career birdies (265) with LET pro Esme Hamilton ‘22.
The Mocs are 5-time champions and 8-time runners-up in 18 SoCon Championships appearances.