UTC golf teams set records in first competition

Women's golf team The women's golf team claimed their second straight Chris Banister Classic title at Spring Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe, Ala., last weekend, shooting a 14-over par total of 878.

The Lady Mocs topped last year's tournament record total of 885 in their season opener, taking home the win.

The first day of competition, the Lady Mocs shot an even par 288 to take a 15- stroke lead over rival Middle Tennessee State University.

Sophomore Christine Wolf, Igls, Austria, led the tournament with a two-under par 70.

Sophomore Emma de Groot of Coffs Harbour, NSW, Austrailia, last season's key power player and NCAA regional qualifier, shot a four-over par 76, tieing for 16th.

The second round paired UTC against MTSU and Murray State. De Groot's second round score of 70 tied her with Wolf for the tournament round low.

Chattanooga finished the third round, Sunday, in the top ten with all teammates finishing in the top 20.

Wolf finished third at 219 and teammate Kayla Stewart, Cookeville, Tenn., junior, followed closely at sixth with 221. Freshman Maria Juliana Loza , Bucaramanga, Columbia, tied for 18th at 231.

Junior Katie Taylor, Talbott, Tenn., playing as an individual, took 46th at 248.

The Lady Mocs dominated the course, despite consisting of such young players with two juniors, two sophomores and two freshman, including Maria Salinas of Lima, Peru.

"We did what we set out to do," said Head Coach Colette Murray, according to gomocs.com

The Lady Mocs return to action Sept. 26-28 at the Mason Rudolph Women's Championship, hosted by Vanderbilt at the Legends Club of Tennessee in Franklin, Tenn.



Men's golf team

The men's golf team, ranked no. 12 by Golfweek preseason rankings and rising as high as no. six nationally last season, co-hosted the 2008 Aldila Scenic City Invitational, Monday.

"It did not seem like the season would ever get here," said Head Coach Mark Guhne, according to gomocs.com. "We have a world of talent and high expectations."

The Mocs took home a record final of 266, 22-under par.

Junior Fredrik Qvicker, Stockholm, Sweden, set a 10-under par school record of 62 in the final round. Qvicker took seventh place, finishing the rounds witth a eight-under par total of 208.

Senior Ben Rickett, Surrey, England, tied for second place, completing the three rounds with an 11-under par total of 205.

Freshman Stephan Jaegar, Munich, Germany, and Jonathan Hodge, Jefferson City, Tenn., also finished in the top ten. Jaegar claimed fifth place with a ten-under par total of 206. Hodge, two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year, tied for tenth with a six-under par total of 210.

Derek Rende, Soddy Daisy, Tenn., junior, took 25th with a two-under par 214.

Rende recently earned the 2008 Tennessee State Amateur at Ridgeway Country Club for the second time in individual play.

Also, UTC's four indvidual players in the tournament played well in the final round.

Junior Tripp Harris, Soddy Daisy, Tenn., claimed an eight-under par 64, Hudson Keener, Dalton, Ga., freshman, posted a 66, Eric Forsman, Kungsangen, Sweden, senior, scored 69 and J.T. Clendenin, Acworth, Ga., junior, finished at 72.

Keener tied for tenth in individual play, shooting a six-under par total of 210.

The Mocs return to action Sept. 12-14 at the Carpet Capital Classic at the Farm in Dalton, Ga.