UTC Golfers Win Rio Pinar Intercollegiate

ORLANDO, Fla.--The Chattanooga golf team overcame a three stroke final-round deficit and claimed the team title with a one-stroke win over 17th-ranked Tulsa in the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate.

The Mocs fired a team total of one-under par 287 on the par-72, 6,978 yard layout at Rio Pinar Country Club.

“Their focus this week was outstanding” said Mocs coach Mark Guhne. “None of our goals this week had to do with score. Our goals were more oriented toward playing each shot before moving on to the next one, and it paid off. These are some outstanding teams that we beat this week. I am really proud of our guys.”

All Southern Conference senior Bryce Ledford posted the best score among contenders for medalist honors. His 2-under par 70 cut into the lead of Tula’s Brett Myers who shot level par. Myers’ five-stroke lead entering the round was too much to overcome and Ledford finished as runner-up at 5-under. Ledford’s total was two strokes better than teammate Jonathan Hodge who turned in a par effort to finish at 3-under for the tournament.

Derek Rende and Mitch Brock both rebounded from disappointing second rounds to count toward the team total. Rende turned in an even par performance, while Brock was one-over with a 73. Fredrik Qvicker, who was +1 entering the final round, posted a 76 to finish tied for 25th. Brock was one stroke back at +6 for the tournament and tied for 33rd. Rende sandwiched a 79 between a pair of 72’s to finish at +7 in a tie for 41st.

The Mocs, ranked #64 in Golfweek and #66 by Golfstat outshone some top-ranked competition for the team title. Fourth-place Louisville is #15 in the latest Golfstat rating, while Tulsa, Ole Miss (#46), and Georgia Southern (#48) were all rated ahead of UTC in the last report.

Chattanooga will return to action next week at the Wexford Invitational which will be played at Hilton Head, S.C. next Monday and Tuesday.


Team Results
1. Chattanooga 284-291-287=862
2. Tulsa 288-284-291=863
3. Mississippi 291-288-293=872
4. Louisville 289-294-293=876
5. UT-Arlington 295-296-288=879
6. Southern Miss 294-291-295=880
7. South Alabama 297-294-290=881
8. Wichita State 302-290-290=882
9. Ohio State 299-293-291=883
10. South Florida 292-292-302=886
11. Mississippi St. 299-293-295=887
UNC Wilmington 298-298-291=887
13. Furman 293-296-305=894
14. Missouri 296-302-297=895
15. Memphis 304-305-297=906
Mercer 302-301-303=906
17. Georgia Southern304-303-302=909
18. Kansas State 309-305-303=917
Chattanooga Individuals

2. Bryce Ledford 69-72-70=211 (-5)

3. Jonathan Hodge 73-68-72=213 (-3)

T25. Fredrik Qvicker 71-74-76=221 (+5)

T33. Mitch Brock 72-77-73=222 (+6)

T41. Derek Rende 72-79-72=223 (+7)

Top-5 Individuals

1. Brett Myers, Tulsa 68-68-72=208 (-8)

2. Bryce Ledford, Chattanooga 69-72-70=211 (-5)

3. Jonathan Hodge, Chattanooga 73-68-72=213 (-3)

4. Callum Macaulay, Ole Miss 66-75-74=215 (-1)

T5. Daryl Fathauer, Louisville 73-71-72=216 (E)

Sam Korbe, Tulsa 73-71-72=216 (E)