University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer Jonathan Hodge broke down in the parking lot of Council Fire Golf after a bad day in the Scenic City Invitational.

With former teammate Bryce Ledford preparing to turn pro, Hodge had the captain’s role on a team that had jumped from No. 195 to the top 25. But each of his four teammates posted better scores that day last fall.

“That was our first tournament — the one where everybody was looking at me — and I didn’t know how to deal with it,” Hodge said. “It took me a while to get used to being the best-ranked player on our team.”

He’s more than the best on the team. The world amateur rankings by the Royal and Ancient have Hodge ranked No. 21 globally. He is competing in the 50th anniversary of the Porter Cup this week at Niagara Falls Country Club.

The Chattanooga Classic officials have also taken notice of the Strawberry Plains, Tenn., native.

Hodge will receive the first exemption into the Nationwide Tour Event to be played Oct. 13-19 at Black Creek Club.

“I can’t wait,” said Hodge, who caddied for Ledford when the former Mocs golfer played in the Classic and for a friend in the Knoxville Open earlier this summer. “I wouldn’t have been ready a few years ago. But at the Knoxville Open, I had the burn to play and felt like I could compete with those guys.”

It will be the first professional tournament for Hodge, who figures to have plenty after he turns in his amateur status.

“He’s preparing himself for the next level, and that’s a very real possibility now,” UTC coach Mark Guhne said while recruiting at the U.S. Junior Championship in Birmingham, Ala. “I know there are other things he’d like to accomplish as well before he graduates.”

That list includes representing the United States as a member of the Palmer Cup team next spring against a team of European college golfers.

The Porter Cup has his current focus. Then he’ll play in a U.S. Amateur Qualifier. He made the match-play field of 64 last year in San Francisco. That started a string of success — despite the Scenic City blip — that included a second straight Southern Conference player of the year award after winning three of UTC’s team tournaments and a spot on the second-team All-America squad.

“We wanted to reward Jonathan because he’s done something no other UTC golfer has done and made that All-American team,” tournament manager Sam Woolwine said. “We think he is an exceptionally good kid, and we wanted to do right by giving him an opportunity.”

This fall, the Mocs will play in four of the most prestigious — and difficult — college golf tournaments in the country. They will begin the season with top-20 rankings and possibly a top-10 in some polls, thanks in large part to Hodge.

“He changed the entire attitude of this golf team when he arrived, even the attitude of the older golfers,” Guhne said. “He’s brought Chattanooga to the forefront — where a lot of players, coaches and parents know Chattanooga is a good team.”

Following the four fall team events, Hodge will gear up for a stop on the Nationwide Tour.

“Playing in the Chattanooga Classic is a step in the right direction of where I want to go,” Hodge said. “I know I can play with them. I can’t wait.”