John Houk Helps Mocs Grab First Round Lead at NCAA Regional in Auburn
(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—Eighteen down, 36 to go. The Chattanooga Mocs got the NCAA Auburn Regionals off to a blazing start matching the temperatures at the Auburn University Club. The Mocs fired a 5-under 283 to take a 2-shot lead over No. 24 Colorado State.
The Mocs and Rams are followed in the top 5 by No. 13 Auburn and TCU tied for third at 292 (+4) with No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Ohio State two more back in a tie for sixth at 294. The gives the Mocs an early 11-stroke cushion on the cutline for the finals.
“Really proud of the guys,” Coach Blaine Woodruff began. “This course is tough. I mean, it’s playing long and the greens are really firm. After the practice round yesterday, we felt like if we could make a bunch of pars, it’s gonna be a really good score. We actually made a lot more birdies than I thought we would, but they played with a sense of freedom and confidence, I think.
“Really proud of the first day, but we got we got a lot of golf left, so we gotta kind of wash this one off and get ready for tomorrow.”
He’s not lying. It was an impressive effort from man-to-man. John Houk is tied for the lead at 4-under 68. Garrett Engle is two behind in a tie third at 2 under. Paul Conroy sits in a tie for sixth with 1-under 71. Samuel Espinosa’s 74 closed the counting scores as Braedon Wear had the drop tally with 78.
The course’s average score today was 75.33, 74.29 on counting scores. The Mocs’ 283, led by Houk’s sterling start, was 15.33 ahead of the rest of the field which averaged 298.33 among their counting cards.
“We just kind of just stuck with what we did all year,” Houk shared. “Just stay patient and grind it out. We’ve had experience with (this kind of position) all year, and I feel like maybe q couple weeks ago, the conference kind of helped with that.
“We put ourselves in position and didn’t really come through, didn’t finish. So, we kind of have an edge on our shoulder, and that kind of helped us this time. I think it’ll help with the next two days.”
The Mocs are back on the tee Tuesday at 9 a.m., Eastern Time. They’re joined by Colorado State and the host Tigers. Scoring and pairings are linked above along with a comprehensive results package.
NCAA Championships – Auburn Regionals
May 15-17 (Mon-Wed) | Auburn, Ala. | 54 holes (18 per day)
Lineup
1st of 13: 283 (-5)
9:44 a.m. – John Houk: T1, 68 (-4)
9:33 a.m. – Garrett Engle: T3, 70 (-2)
9:22 a.m. – Paul Conroy: T6, 71 (-1)
9:11 a.m. – Samuel Espinosa: T26, 74 (+2)
9 a.m. – Braedon Wear: T54, 78 (+6)
Alternate: Alec Cobb
Noteworthy…
– 5-under 283 is the fourth-lowest team score in NCAA postseason play for the Mocs, but second-best vs. par. The only one better vs. par is the 7-under 281 in round 2 of the 2012 NCAA Bowling Green Regionals triumph.
– Houk’s 4-under 68 is the top vs. par score to begin an NCAA event, but second-lowest start by total for a Moc behind Chris Robb’s 3-under 67 at the 2014 Eugene Regionals. Robb earned the individual berth to the NCAA Finals from there tying for 15th and earning All-America status.
– 17 birdies on the counting cards. 20th round with 15 or more by the Mocs this season. It was led by Engle whose six leads the field.
Course
University Cub | Par 72 | 7,591 yards
Field
1 – (48) Chattanooga: 283 (-5)
2 – (24) Colorado State: 285 (-3)
T3 – (13) Auburn: 292 (+4)
T3 – (37) TCU: 292 (+4)
T5 – (1) Vanderbilt: 294 (+6)
T5 – (25) Ohio State: 294 (+6)
T7 – (12) Tennessee: 297 (+9)
T7 – (36) Washington: 297 (+9)
T7 – (62) Indiana: 297
10 – (49) Houston: 300 (+12)
11 – (60) Marquette: 301 (+13)
12 – (124) Augusta: 313 (+25)
13 – (234) Siena: 318 (+30)
History
Team Finishes (13 appearances)
Win (1): 2012
Advance (4): 1993 (Neil Connolly), 2009, 2012, 2014 (Chris Robb)
Medalists (1)
2012: Stephan Jaeger – 70-67-66=203 (-13)
Top 10s (4)
1993: T5, Neil Connolly – 70-74-69=213
2012: 1, Stephan Jaeger – 70-67-66=203 (-13)
2012: T3, Steven Fox – 76-64-71=211 (-5)
2014: T4, Chris Robb – 67-72-73=212 (+2)
