Mocs Look to Defend Southern Conference Championship

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.—Coming off its school record-tying fourth title this season, No. 12 Chattanooga sets its sights on defending its championship at the 2008 Southern Conference Championship. The tournament is a 54-hole event, Sunday-Tuesday April 20-22, at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence.

The Mocs win at Bank of America Intercollegiate was the third of the spring semester. In its last five tournaments, UTC has three wins, one second and a third-place finish. The three teams to finish ahead of the Mocs in that span are No. 1 Georgia, No. 21 Louisville and No. 30 Ole Miss.

As of April 16, Chattanooga leads the nation in par five scoring (4.69), is second in birdies (520) and third in scoring average (72.56) and first round scoring average (72.42). It is fourth in score in comparison to par (0.88) and fifth in subpar strokes per round (3.51).

Junior Jonathan Hodge is ranked No. 18 in the Golfstat Cup and No. 27 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Ratings Index. He leads the conference in stroke average (71.35) and rank No. 26 nationally. Hodge has three tournament titles this year, a school record for a season and ties him with former teammate Bryce Ledford for the career mark.