Golfers set records, win tourney

By Jacob Vannucci
Assistant Sports EditorA solid team effort by the men's golf team was punctuated by the record-breaking play of a freshman as UTC won the USA Spring Golf Classic in Mobile, Ala. on March 27.

Derek Rende, a Soddy Daisy, Tenn., freshman, shot the lowest round in the history of the program, a 9-under 63 during the second round of play.

Combined with his other scores of 71 and 70, Rende finished first individually at -12, three strokes ahead Ian Rochester of the University of Memphis.

"Derek has set himself up as one of the best freshmen in the region," head coach Mark Guhne said.

The Mocs as a whole finished -17, easily outpacing the second-place teams, South Alabama and No. 39 Southeastern Louisiana University, who beat UTC at the Carter Plantation Intercollegiate the weekend before. The Mocs also finished 16 strokes ahead of Louisville, nationally ranked 19th.

"We have a winning record against teams ranked in the top 50," Guhne said. The Mocs are now ranked 41st nationally according to Golfstat, easily the highest in the program's history.

Rende was not the only one to help the Mocs to victory. Jonathan Hodge, a Jefferson City, Tenn., sophomore, and Bryce Ledford, a Chattanooga senior, also posted under-par scores for the tournament, both at -3, to finish tied at eighth. Ledford led all UTC scorers the last round with a 5-under 67.

Fredrik Qvicker, a Stockholm, Sweden, freshman; Mitch Brock, a Lewisburg, Tenn. senior; and Ben Rickett, a Surrey, England sophomore, rounded out the Mocs squad and finished +5, +6, and +6 respectively.

With earlier wins at the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate and the Wexford Intercollegiate, this makes the first season in golf team history that they have reached three victories.

UTC will try to add to that total as they travel to the Palisades Golf Classic in Charlotte, N.C. on April 9. After that will be the Southern Conference Championships in Florence, S.C. on April 20.