Mocs Golf Team Wins Season Opening Marquette Intercollegiate

(gomocs.com) MILWAUKEE—The Chattanooga Mocs got their first win of the season out of the way early in 2023-24. The Mocs captured the season-opening title at the Marquette Intercollegiate behind co-medalist Samuel Espinosa.

Chattanooga won by three over Cal (878). Purdue and Texas A&M ended at 879, four shots off the lead. Cincinnati (881) was fifth ahead of host Marquette (886) in sixth. Augusta (890) was seventh as Penn State (892), Nevada (896) and UC Davis (901) rounded out the top 10.

“I’m so excited for our guys and especially for Sam,” Coach Blaine Woodruff began. “We talked this morning about not being out of this thing. We just needed to be disciplined and fully committed on every shot we hit as a group. That was our only chance.”

Espinosa paced the win with a final round 68. That gave him a share of the title with Cal individual Eric Lee. Braedon Wear added 3-under 69. John Houk added 73 (+1) with Garrett Engle finishing the team score with 75 (+3). Ward Harris had the drop tally with 82, while Carson Johnson finished up with 77 playing as an individual.

Espinosa shot 3-under 213 at Erin Hills, host of several USGA events including the U.S. Open. Wear’s 217 provided a top 10 for the junior tying for eighth. Houk posted 223 for his three cards followed by Harris (229). Engle and Johnson each recorded 231.

The Mocs shot 3-under 285 to storm through the field after starting the day seven strokes behind 36-hole leading Boilermakers. The squad was down double digits early before taking control. The group made the turn at 1 under and played the back side at 2 under.

That was the advantage. The three closest competitors played the final nine at 1 over (Cal & Texas A&M) and 8 over (Purdue). Wear led the way with a 3-under 33.

“I think we were around 12 back with 10 or 11 holes to play,” Woodruff continued. “The guys did a heack of a job down the stretch. This is a great team and group of guys that push each other day in, day out to be their absolute best.”

It’s the first win in the opening event since the 2008 Aldila Scenic City Invitational at Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga. Espinosa got his first win as a Moc but third as a collegian. He captured three titles at King before transferring to the Scenic City last summer. His medalist honor is the first in an opener since Bryce Ledford ’07 captured the 2004 Buffalo Rock/Southern Showdown.

“Sam has worked really hard on his attitude on the golf course,” Woodruff concluded. “We’re really proud of how he played with a chance to win down the stretch. He earned this one.”

The Mocs return to the tee Sept 18-19 at the Bearcat Invitational. The University of Cincinnati hosts the 2-day, 54-hole event at Coldstream Country Club. Top 10s for Espinosa and Wear qualify them for the event while the rest of the roster qualifies for the other three starting positions.

Lineup

1st of 12: 296-294-285=875 (+11)

1) Samuel Espinosa: 71-74-68=213 (-3)

T8) Braedon Wear: 74-74-69=217 (+1)

T22) John Houk: 77-73-73=223 (+7)

T50) Ward Harris: 74-73-82=229 (+13)

T58) Garrett Engle: 82-74-75=231 (+15)

T58) Carson Johnson (Ind): 77-77-77=231 (+15)

Team Leaderboard

1) CHATTANOOGA: 296-294-285=875 (+11)

2) Cal: 294-292-292=878 (+14)

3) Purdue: 287-296-296=879 (+15)

tie) Texas A&M: 300-290-289=879 (+15)

5) Cincinnati: 298-294-289=881 (+17)

6) Marquette: 289-306-291=886 (+22)

7) Augusta: 291-296-303=890 (+26)

8) Penn State: 306-302-284=892 (+28)

9) Nevada: 298-313-285=896 (+32)

10) UC Davis: 311-295-295=901 (+37)

11) Wisconsin: 301-305-297=903 (+39)

12) Dayton: 309-299-297=905 (+41)

Course

Erin Hills G.C. | Par 72 | 7,731 yards

Field

Chattanooga, Augusta, Cal, UC Davis, Cincinnati, Dayton, Marquette, Nevada, Penn State, Purdue, Texas A&M & Wisconsin

History

First Entry in the Event