Mocs in Third Place at NCAA Golf Finals

The Chattanooga Mocs golf team is alone in third place after the
first round of the NCAA Finals.  The Mocs played early this morning,
and they actually enjoyed the clubhouse lead after finishing at eight-over.
During the afternoon, Georgia and Oklahoma State tied for the lead at
four-over-par. Washington and San Diego are right behind Chattanooga at nine-over-par.
Junior Fredrik Qvicker was the top Chattanooga finisher with an even-par 71. 
Qvicker started with birdies on 10 and 12 as the Mocs started
their day on the 10th hole.  His 71 was tied for the fourth
best round of the morning wave behind Northwestern’s Jonathan Bowers at 69.
Qvicker was not alone in a quick start as the Mocs got
off to an eight-under par start before slowing
to four under at the turn led by Jonathan Hodge at minus two. 
In fact, 11 of Chattanooga’s 14 birdies on the day came
on its first nine holes.  Rain struck early in the second
nine holes as the Mocs hit the toughest stretch of holes on the course, Nos. 3-7.
Derek Rende carded three straight birdies on 12, 13 and 14
before a couple birdies moved him to minus one at the turn.
Rende fell back to three over through 16 holes before scoring
a birdie on the ninth to finish at two-over par 73.
The Mocs got three-over par 74s from Hodge and Stephan Jaeger. 
Jaeger got off to a three under start like Rende, before a run
of bogeys stalled his round.  Hodge was minus two through 11
holes before the rains came.  Bogeys at three, four, five and
six did not derail the steady senior.
It was a tough day for Ben Rickett who just couldn’t find any breaks. 
He hit the ball well enough to have scored with his mates,
but when the off hit came, it was at the wrong time as
he finished with a 78 (+7).
The Mocs played with No. 24 Texas (308) and Arizona (310) and
topped the Longhorns 16 shots, while finishing 18 better than the Wildcats.
The trio will be paired together tomorrow as well teeing off No. 1 at 12:30 p.m.