Rende, Mocs Claim Titles at USA Spring Golf Classic

MOBILE, Ala.—Freshman Derek Rende carded a final-round 2-under par 70 and cruised to a three shot individual victory while leading Chattanooga to a program-record third team title of the season at the USA Spring Golf Classic at Heron Lake Country Club.

The Mocs were 6-under par as a team in the final round, led by Bryce Ledford’s 67. Ledford’s 5-under par round moved him from a 23rd-place tie after two rounds into a tie for eighth place at 3-under par. Teammate Jonathan Hodge also finished in the four-man logjam at 3-under after a final-round 71.

Rende’s win is the second for a UTC freshman in school history and the first since Per Oloffson claimed medalist honors at the 2000 Louisiana Tech Invitational. Rende finished below par for the first time in his short career and did so in grand fashion, finishing the 54-hole event at 12-under par and winning by three strokes.

The team title is the third of the season for the Mocs, a program record. UTC also took home the team crown at the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate and the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate.

The Mocs, currently ranked No. 48 by Golfstat and No. 49 by Golfweek, were 12 strokes better than No. 39 Southeastern Louisiana and 16 better than No. 19 Louisville.

Team Results
1. Chattanooga 288-277-282=847 (-17)
T2. Southeastern Louisiana 282-290-287=859 (-5)
T2. South Alabama 286-292-281=859 (-5)
4. Louisville 294-285-284=863 (-1)
5. West Florida 284-301-279=864 (E)
6. Memphis 291-293-281=865 (+1)
7. Virginia Commonwealth 292-301-282=875 (+11)
8. Jacksonville State 294-292-293=879 (+15)
9. South Florida 292-305-292=889 (+25)
10. Mississippi State 297-301-293=891 (+27)
11. Southern Mississippi 298-299-307=904 (+40)
12. Mercer 297-310-199=906 (+42)

Chattanooga Individuals
1. Derek Rende 71-63-70=204 (-12)
T8. Jonathan Hodge 72-70-71=213 (-3)
T8. Bryce Ledford 75-71-67=213 (-3)
T30. Fredrik Qvicker 72-73-76=221 (+5)
T32. Mitch Brock 73-75-74=222 (+6)
*T32. Ben Rickett 74-71-77=222 (+6)
*competing as an individual

Top-5 Individuals
1. Derek Rende (Chattanooga) 71-63-70=204 (-12)
2. Ian Rochester (Memphis) 69-69-69=207 (-9)
T3. M. Etienne Bussieres (South Alabama) 69-71-68=208 (-8)
T3. Rafael Campos (Virginia Commonwealth) 71-71-66=208 (-8)
T5. Derek Fathauer (Louisville) 73-66-70=209 (-7)
T5. Federico Damus (W. Florida) 66-76-67=209 (-7)