By David Uchiyama
Staff Writer
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's golf team took two steps forward but not a giant leap in the last week.
The Mocs held their ground against some of the tops teams in the country and proved they can be among the top 25, but they are still a few steps behind the elite programs.
UTC finished second to No. 10 Charlotte in the Scenic City Invitational in Chattanooga. Then the Mocs participated for the first time in the "Masters of college golf" -- the Carpet Capital Collegiate at Rocky Face -- and played in the final round with No. 3 Georgia and No. 14 Tennessee. UTC tied for ninth, ahead of No. 4 Florida, No. 21 East Tennessee State and No. 24 Georgia State.
"We learned that we can play with anybody day in and day out, even when we're not tearing it up," UTC sophomore Derek Rende said. "We didn't do anything great, but we got off to a solid start."
The competition has never been so tough this early for the Mocs. Teeing it up against so many ranked teams is a new experience.
"You have to learn to play at that level," coach Mark Guhne said. "We've gone from playing a mid-major schedule to one of the strongest in the country.
"The Carpet Capital felt like a (NCAA) regional situation for us."
Rende and junior Jonathan Hodge, both of whom played in the U.S. Amateur, fared well against the field by tying for 10th and 15th. The rest of the Mocs put up two big numbers in the first and third rounds at The Farm Golf Club.
"We gave away shots and got to pressing," Guhne said. "We tried to make things happen instead of playing golf.
"The more comfortable they get, the better we'll be able to compete with those teams."
The next competiton for the Mocs comes against themselves. Rende and Hodge earned their way into the starting lineup for the VCU Shootout Oct. 1-2. The other three spots are up for grabs during four rounds of team qualifying at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay and at Valleybrook.
"You may see a totally new lineup," Guhne said. "We've got some real good players and we have to find the right chemistry of guys.
"Right now, we've got to get those other guys a little more consistent to where it's a bad day if they shoot 75."
E-mail David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com
